Liberty Quotes - Daily Email History

"Constitutional rights may not be infringed
simply because the majority of the people choose that they be."

~ Supreme Court of the United States  

"In questions of power, then, let no more be said of confidence in man,
but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution."

~ Thomas Jefferson  

"That frequent recurrence to fundamental principles, and a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, industry and frugality, are absolutely necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty, and keep government free. The people ought, therefore, to pay particular attention to these points, in the choice of officers and representatives, and have a right to exact a due and constant regard to them, from their legislators and magistrates, in the making and executing such laws as are necessary for the good government of the State."

~ Vermont Declaration of Rights  

"The essence of Government is power;
and power, lodged as it must be in human hands,
will ever be liable to abuse."

~ James Madison  

"From the utopian viewpoint, the United States constitution is a singularly hard-bitten and cautious document, for it breathes the spirit of skepticism about human altruism and incorporates a complex system of checks, balances and restrictions, so that everybody is holding the reins on everybody else."

~ Chad Walsh  

"Our inalienable rights cannot shield us from our own follies."

~ Eric Schaub  

"For most Americans
the Constitution had become
a hazy document,
cited like the Bible
on ceremonial occasions
but forgotten
in the daily transactions of life."

~ Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.  

"Asked random questions about the First Amendment and how they would
like to have it applied, if you believe in polls at all, the average
American wants no part of it. But if you ask, 'What if we threw the
Constitution away tomorrow?' the answer is 'No, that would be bad!'
But living under the Constitution is another story altogether."

~ Frank Zappa  

"The Constitution is like my old blue dress ... it doesn't fit anymore."

~ Rep. Ellen Tauscher  

"Outside of the Constitution we have no legal authority more than
private citizens, and within it we have only so much as that instrument
gives us. This broad principle limits all our functions and applies
to all subjects."

~ Andrew Johnson  

"Today, when a concerted effort is made to obliterate this point,
it cannot be repeated too often that the Constitution
is a limitation on the government, not on private individuals --
that it does not prescribe the conduct of private individuals,
only the conduct of the government --
that it is not a charter _for_ government power,
but a charter of the citizen's protection _against_ the government."

~ Ayn Rand  

"The Bill of Rights is a born rebel. It reeks with sedition. In every
clause it shakes its fist in the face of constituted authority...
It is the one guarantee of human freedom to the American people."

~ Frank I. Cobb  

"We the People of the united States, in Order to form a more perfect
Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the
common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of
Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America."

~ Constitution for the USA  

"The Constitution of the United States is a law
for rulers and people, equally in war and in peace,
and covers with the shield of its protection
all classes of men, at all times, and under all circumstances.
No doctrine, involving more pernicious consequences,
was ever invented by the wit of man than
that any of its provisions can be suspended
during any of the great exigencies of government.
Such a doctrine leads directly to anarchy or despotism,
but the theory of necessity on which it is based is false;
for the government, within the Constitution,
has all the powers granted to it,
which are necessary to preserve its existence;
as has been happily proved by the result
of the great effort to throw off its just authority."

~ Justice David Davis  

Outside Independence Hall when the Constitutional Convention of 1787 ended, Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, "A republic, if you can keep it."

~ Benjamin Franklin