"It's the misfortune of all Countries, that they sometimes lie under a unhappy necessity to defend themselves by Arms against the ambition of their Governors, and to fight for what's their own. If those in government are heedless of reason, the people must patiently submit to Bondage, or stand upon their own Defence; which if they are enabled to do, they shall never be put upon it, but their Swords may grow rusty in their hands; for that Nation is surest to live in Peace, that is most capable of making War; and a Man that hath a Sword by his side, shall have least occasion to make use of it."
by:
John Trenchard
(1662-1723)
Source:
and Walter Moyle (1672-1721), "An Argument, shewing; that a standing Army is Inconsistent with
a Free Government and Absolutely Destructive to the Constitution
of the English Monarchy," (London, 1697)
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Reader comments about this quote:
 -- P.M.      
Pearls of wisdom. Acquire a weapon and learn how to use it. Forget about no guns in school -- in fact, put guns in school and train everyone how to care for and use weapons. ;-)
 -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Amazing...
     -- Logan, Memphis, TN     
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    Yes, sadly true... The next giant leap for mankind may never arrive as we will always have a reason its obscurity.
     -- Robert, Sarasota     
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    Lest we forget!
     -- helorat, Milton     
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    "...and a Man that hath a Sword by his side, shall have least occasion to make use of it." Exactly why I carry a handgun, that I may defend myself from the nutjobs of the world, but God willing I will never need it.
     -- Joe, Rochester, MI     
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    But let us not let that sword rust too well. That is how the liberal government-as-God wackos expect to disarm us. They need to be firmly convinced that we will not submit and that we (The People) are capable of killing them all and restoring a proper republic. They should fear that above all else, and thus mind their manners and their already invasive presence in our lives. A precious balance to be sure....
     -- Eric Engstrom, Wichita, KS     
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    Pax superiore vi telarum.
     -- Ken, Allyn, WA     
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    "Kill! Kill! Kill!" Is that all the wacko right thinks about? Oh, no, that's right, there is also "Control the woman's body as they are just breeding animals." Sick...
     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US     
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    Actually Reston..."sick" is where your mind seems to dwell as evidenced by your constant allusions to death in general.The advocates of gun ownership posting here are speaking in terms of self defense and defense of liberty, not death...that's just you. And that you should feel that the disposal of a yet to be born human being is is okay...is only further evidence that death is "your" mind set. Get Help.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    An armed society is a polite society. If people learned to use weapons of self defense, and actually did use them...our crime rate would drop to zero in about 6 months and the threat of tyranny would slither back under a rock and stay there.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    SICK is people as Reston that obviously think on the dark side. Thinking that somene with a gun wants to kill. Reston, open your eyes! The only person(s) that should fear death from a LAW ABIDING gun carrier is the sicko that BREAKS the law! If it is OK to KILL a baby before it has a say in life, you surely must agree that is is OK to kill someone that is trying to cause harm to someone else! (THEY AT LEAST HAD A CHOICE!)
     -- DJ, Decatur USA     
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    Reston, be sure and get back to the rest home in time for bed check. And if I were you, I'd cancel those shock treatments as they don't seem to be helping.
     -- jim k, Austin, Tx     
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    A wise Latina woman would surely come to a better conclusion than a white guy.
     -- S. Sotomayor, SCOTUS     
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    -- S. Sotomayor, SCOTUS? ????? Are you profiling or just being racist?
     -- DJ, Decatur USA     
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    We hold this truth to be self evident - over, and over, and over again !
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    This is a primitive and misguided, and sorry, pure ridiculous analysis, for those nations most prepared for peace will most undoubtedly feel its tranquil serenity and its audacious eloquence.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Addendum, those least likely capable of making war are the most prepared for creating peace. Destruction leads to destruction, and creativity leads us to peace.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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