Founding Fathers Quotes

Alexander Hamilton

It has been observed that a pure democracy if it were practicable would be the most perfect government. Experience has proved that no position is more false than this. The ancient democracies in which the people themselves deliberated never possessed one good feature of government. Their very character was tyranny; their figure deformity. Alexander Hamilton, Speech on 21 June 1788 urging ratification of the Constitution in New York.

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/alexander_hamilton.html

It’s not tyranny we desire; it’s a just, limited, federal government. Alexander Hamilton (Attributed)

Those who stand for nothing fall for anything. Alexander Hamilton (Attributed)

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alexander_Hamilton

Civil liberty is only natural liberty, modified and secured by the sanctions of civil society. Alexander Hamilton, The Farmer Refuted, 1775

George Washington

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Washington (Contains small section on MISATTRIBUTIONS.)

Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action. George Washington (Attributed)

A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country? George Washington (Attributed)

The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their Constitutions of Government. But the Constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all. George Washington, Farewell Address, 17 Sept 1796

James Madison

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/james_madison.html

A pure democracy is a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person. James Madison (Attributed)

All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree. James Madison (Attributed)

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/James_Madison (Contains small section on MISATTRIBUTIONS.)

I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. James Madison, Speech at the Virginia Convention to ratify the Federal Constitution, 6 June 1788

A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives. James Madison to W.T. Barry, 4 Aug. 1822

Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson Quotes Links:

http://guides.lib.virginia.edu/content.php?pid=77323&sid=573588

The main UVA home for all things TJ is here — http://guides.lib.virginia.edu/content.php?pid=77323&sid=572858

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson (The section on MISATTRIBUTIONS is fairly extensive here.)

http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Thomas_Jefferson/

On Government:

The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive. Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 1787

The will of the people … is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object. Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Waring, 1801

We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate. Thomas Jefferson (Attributed)

No government ought to be without censors & where the press is free, no one ever will. Thomas Jefferson, letter to George Washington, September 9, 1792

Jefferson’s First Inaugural Address

Let us, then, fellow-citizens, unite with one heart and one mind. Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection without which liberty and even life itself are but dreary things….every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have called by different names brethren of the same principle. We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists. If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it….This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities. http://www.pbs.org/jefferson/enlight/social.htm

“Our first and fundamental maxim should be, never to entangle ourselves in the broils of Europe. Our second, never to suffer Europe to intermeddle with cis-Atlantic affairs. America, North and South, has a set of interests distinct from those of Europe, and peculiarly her own. She should therefore have a system of her own, separate and apart from that of Europe.” Excerpted from a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the President of the United States, James Monroe. Monticello, October 24, 1823 http://history-world.org/thomas_jefferson_on_the_monroe_d.htm

Links related to Founding Fathers and Founding Documents

http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/index_beta.html (Spectacular online resource with links to founding documents such as the records of the federal convention, writings, speeches, etc.)

http://www.founding.com/ (Comprehensive online resource with Founders’ Library, Constitution, Declaration, Founding Timeline, other educational resources.)

http://www.vindicatingthefounders.com/ (Extensive collection of original historical documents. Site is related to the book “Vindicating the Founders.” Very educational; corrects modern views on the founders’ positions related to slavery, women’s rights, etc.)

http://www.freedomproject.com/ (A website of the American Opinion Foundation, LLC. Has more videos and pictures than other informational websites.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founding_Fathers_of_the_United_States

http://www.liberty1.org/ The Institute for American Liberty; excellent resource “Thomas Jefferson & James Madison’s Guide to Understanding and Teaching the Constitution” http://www.wjmi.org/DOCS/Guide_to_Teaching_the_Constitution.pdf

http://oll.libertyfund.org/ (The Online Library of Liberty)

http://afr.org/Hultberg/020706.html (“Not Just for the 19th Century” by Nelson Hultberg)