"The poor people, it is true, have been much less successful than the great.
They have seldom found either leisure or opportunity to form a union and exert their strength;
ignorant as they were of arts and letters, they have seldom been able to frame and support a regular opposition.
This, however, has been known by the great to be the temper of mankind;
and they have accordingly labored, in all ages, to wrest from the populace,
as they are contemptuously called, the knowledge of their rights and wrongs,
and the power to assert the former or redress the latter.
I say RIGHTS, for such they have, undoubtedly, antecedent to all earthly government,
Rights, that cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws,
Rights, derived from the great Legislator of the universe."
by:
John Adams
(1735-1826) Founding Father, 2nd US President
Source:
A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law, 1765
Rating:
Categories:
 
Bookmark and Share  
Reader comments about this quote:
The common man in America should understand that the tactics to yoke him are still very much in use today.
 -- E Archer, NYC     
  • 1
  •  
    Yes, why do government schools not teach the individual sovereigns how to petition their servants (government) for a redress of grievances ? Why do the servants not teach within their system how to file, prosecute and pursue through fruition criminal acts against government employees ? Rights, derived from the great Legislator of the universe were to be the natural law foundation of the Constitutionally limiting Representative Republic. The rights, that are seemingly and temporarily repealed and/or restrained by human laws (legal positivism) are that which now plagues this land. The occupying statist theocracy infesting this land has labored endlessly to wrest the populace and bring all to the dummy downed state of socialist dogmas.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
  • 1
  •  
    Every time a law is passed, Someone loses a freedom. My freedom today...Your freedom tomorrow.
     -- GWAP, Florida     
  • 1
  •  
    GWAP,Florida, wow, you said it exactly right.
     -- jim k, Austin     
  •  
     
    Rate this quote!
    How many stars?
    0
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5

     
    What do YOU think?
    Your name:
    Your town:
        CLICK JUST ONCE!

    More Quotations
    Get a Quote-A-Day! Free!
    Liberty Quotes sent to your mail box.
    RSS Subscribe
    Quotes & Quotations - Send This Quote to a Friend

    © 1998-2024 Liberty-Tree.ca