"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty.
Suspect every one who approaches that jewel.
Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force.
Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined....
O sir, we  should have fine times, indeed, if to punish tyrants,
it were only sufficient to assemble the people!"
by:
Patrick Henry
(1736-1799) US Founding Father
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Reader comments about this quote:
 -- dragonswizardz      
maybe.
 -- yahoo, woogleville, wooglestate     
  • 3
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     -- warren, olathe      
    Force is not the answer to all of the world's problems... unless one thinks that indeed King George W & his jesters need to be taken out and shot that is...
     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US     
  • 3
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    Endless talk and posturing certainly won't save liberty, especially in debating societies like the UN populated by tyrants, dictators, and not so petty thieves.
     -- Ken, Allyn, WA     
  • 3
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    I think history has shown that force solves very little -- though war tends to be profitable for well-connected corporations and individuals. America can depose its own tyrant in the next presidential election: no force required.
     -- Anna, Canada     
  • 3
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    Force can only be avoided by being well prepared to use it. Just because we do not want to use force is not going to reduce the necessity for it. Tyrants always pick on the weak, If we do not stand up for the weak the Tyrants will eventually become strong enough that we will be perceived as week and we will then go the same way as those we chose to not defend.
     -- warren, olathe ks     
  • 6
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    Defence, not offence, the motto of modern America. Standing and ready. To stop tyranny. The disarmament of America, will not occur, The majority are aware, and WILL not give up that right.
     -- kimo, lahian     
  • 5
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    kimo, if it were only so, unfortunatly with the Start treaty we have already started down the road to disarmament. Thank you Mr Obamunist and the US Senate.
     -- jim k, Austin,Tx     
  • 4
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    Now that the Kenyan in the White House has imposed an anti-gun head in BATF, our right to self defense has never been more in jeaprody. Register nothing and let them know what you think by purchasing staggering amounts of firearms and ammunition. Better to be prepared and wrong than the other way around.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
  • 4
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    Armed conflict should never again happen in this country, however, we must always be at the ready to defend our Constitution and our Sovereignty both here and abroad. It all boils down to an electorate that not only votes in elections, but watches, listens and learns just what our representatives are up to in D.C. and exactly what their previous history is so they will be judged worthy to be hired by the People. If any should deviate from their appointed duty, they should feel the full force of law and not hide behind congressional exemptions. Just this week we have been weaken by our government by even considering the START treaty and now it is set to be ratified. America is being dissolved before our eyes.
     -- Carol, Georgia     
  • 5 1
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    Would you not protect your life by force if it is threatened by force? Your life is liberty and that is exactly what is meant by "downright force". All you are doing is protecting your life and that is the simple fact and way. Even Buddha doesn't argue with that (source available). "Assemble the people" indeed! How sad, we no longer have the this desire to quench the thirst of Liberty. How sad we no longer feel the need to protect what is sacred in life but rather lay down our sword and surrender our soul for a little temporary security. How brainwashed we are to sit back and allow our freedom, liberty, and sacred oaths to be taken without even a whisper of discontent. America is no longer a free country we have sold those sacred rights for the rights of greed and selfishness. We are doomed unless we stop this unfettered predatory capitalistic hold over our ethics and over our individuality. America is our home and alas is threatened by a terrible virus called corporatism - we have become complicit in this savagery of our liberty, by our apathy, and by our own ignorance. QUESTION authority, QUESTION religion, and QUESTION everything. Until you become you again you will remain inert and apathetic.
     -- RBESRQ     
  • 4
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    RBESRQ...In previous comments on the recent gun rights quotes you have made your position clear that you believe We the People should no longer have the right to bear arms. But here, you speak of exacting force on our oppressors in order to preserve liberty. What force does an unarmed populous have over any government? You say here that it is sad that we lay down our sword and surrender. But previously you have advocated that we do just that by giving up our guns. I somewhat agree with what you have written here, but I am puzzled by your philosophy. You seem, at times, to contradict yourself. If it is liberty that you fight for, then fight for it in its entirety. There is no half-free citizens; you are either bessed with liberty, or damned with servitude. When one right is taken, another will soon follow, so in order to preserve a single right of freedom, you must respect all the others.
     -- Publius     
  • 7
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    Publius - you miss the point I am talking about the right to defend yourself by what ever force you have at hand - I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT GUN CONTROL - where do you find this right you talk about?
     -- RBESRQ     
  • 1
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    RBESRQ...You miss the point. I am saying that We the People have no force to defend ourselves if we do not possess the right to bear arms. And I find this right in the 2nd Amendmendment of the Constitution of the United States. "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED."
     -- Publius     
  • 4
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    Amen Publius. And not to mention that it is the first law of natural law. Everything with a heart beat has the survival instinct.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
  • 5
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    Yes Carlton...If you declaw the cat, he will neither survive nor reproduce unless his master allows him to do so. I will not be a servant to anyone but my Maker. I will live in a land of liberty or I will fight for one. Either way, whether my last breath is lieing in a bed or standing in a battlefield, it will be one of pure freedom.
     -- Publius     
  • 7
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    A faithful statesman
     -- Ron, Salem     
  • 1
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    I'm not quite sure how to rate this. A primary support of the quote is: "he who forgets history is doomed to relive it." Considering the nature of man, all are not going to be Christ like. My personal preference is Jesus the Christ's way of peace (by way of example: Sermon on the Mount - inclusive of "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;") The current occupying statist theocracy infesting this land is a despotism born of force and police state tyranny. I do NOT believe that is equal to or, the same as force used in self defense.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
  • 1
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    Under the New Patriotic Leadership of President Trump, We the People. Patriots of Liberty, with a show of force, readied arms, make the knees of tyrants to shake throughout the nation. The Sovereign nations follow suit, understanding their patriotism of self worth is at stake. Strength through valor guided by the natural law of moral responsibility and mutual respect for individual sovereignty and the public's Liberty.
     -- Ronw13, Oregon     
    		•  
    Amen
     -- Howard, Bangkok     
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    He who has no will to strike, has no will to survive ! 
     -- Ronw13, Idaho     
    		•  
     -- jim k, austin      

    And thus every effort to disempower the People at every turn.  Whether to take their means of defense against unconstitutional dictates, to take the fruits of their labor, to tax property ownership, to require permission to work, to bank, to sell.  To say whatever to knock a person's consciousness down to that of a beast of burden.  By any means necessary to get you on your knees to them.

    This doesn't even sound like hyperbole any more — this is happening right before our eyes.


     -- E Archer, NYC     
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