 Quote > The will of the people ...The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object. Continued at top
Owned by Unordained - Created on 10/07/2005 - Never edited 12/25/06 :: Folder :: Government & Politics06/22/05 :: Folder :: Freedom of Speech01/28/05 :: Person :: Thomas Jefferson 08/01/05 :: Quote :: Thomas JeffersonSometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the forms of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question. 07/31/05 :: Quote :: Thomas JeffersonYet it is easy to foresee, from the nature of things, that the encroachments of the State governments will tend to an excess of liberty which will correct itself, while those of the General Government will tend to monarchy, which will fortify itself from day to day.  09/30/05 :: Quote :: Thomas JeffersonWe are not to expect to be translated from despotism to liberty in a feather bed. 08/01/05 :: Quote :: Thomas JeffersonEnlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day. 08/01/05 :: Quote :: Thomas JeffersonThe care of every man's soul belongs to himself. But what if he neglect the care of it? Well what if he neglect the care of his health or his estate, which would more nearly relate to the state. Will the magistrate make a law that he not be poor or sick? Laws provide against injury from others; but not from ourselves. God himself will not save men against their wills. 01/14/05 :: Quote :: Thomas JeffersonIt is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.  11/08/06 :: Quote :: Thomas JeffersonIn matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. 10/02/05 :: Quote :: Thomas JeffersonIf a nation expects to be ignorant and free ... it expects what never was and never will be.
09/29/05 :: Quote :: Robert H. Jackson, US Supreme Court JusticeThe very purpose of a Bill of Rights was to withdraw certain subjects from the vicissitudes of political controversy, to place them beyond the reach of majorities and officials and to establish them as legal principles to be applied by the courts. One's right to life, liberty, and property, to free speech, a free press, freedom of worship and assembly, and other fundamental rights may not be submi [...] 08/01/05 :: Quote :: Thomas JeffersonThe spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere.
[I rarely see the second part quoted, but I think it's important to realize that Jefferson knew the implications of wha [...]  07/29/03 :: Article :: Shouting "Fire!" in a Crowded Room :: An attack on propaganda and on anti-propaganda propaganda 07/15/05 :: Article :: Catch the terror :: T-shirt idea09/30/05 :: Quote :: Louis D. Brandeis, Justice, US Supreme Court JusticeFear of serious injury cannot alone justify suppression of free speech and assembly. Men feared witches and burned women. It is the function of speech to free men from the bondage of irrational fears.  07/01/04 :: Quote :: Thomas JeffersonA wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement. 11/16/05 :: Quote :: Louis D. Brandeis, US Supreme Court JusticeThe greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.  10/07/04 :: Article :: The Election :: Are we sick of the candidates yet?09/04/03 :: Quote :: O'RourkeIf government were a product, selling it would be illegal. 09/04/03 :: Quote :: Adolf Hitler (disputed)What luck for the rulers that men do not think! 08/29/08 :: Quote :: Harry S TrumanWhenever you have an efficient government you have a dictatorship. 08/26/05 :: Reference :: (link) :: Inside Ronald Reagan08/22/06 :: Quote :: John Stuart MillIf mankind minus one were of one opinion, then mankind is no more justified in silencing the one than the one - if he had the power - would be justified in silencing mankind. 08/18/04 :: Reference :: (link) :: Live free or die07/31/05 :: Quote :: Thomas JeffersonI would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it. 07/31/05 :: Quote :: Thomas JeffersonAn honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens. 07/08/05 :: Quote :: GhandiI believe that no government can exist for a single moment without the co-operation of the people, willing or forced, and if people suddenly withdraw their co-operation in every detail, the government will come to a standstill. 07/05/03 :: Reference :: (link) :: U.S. Republican Party Platform (2000)07/05/03 :: Reference :: (link) :: U.S. Green Party Platform (current)07/05/03 :: Reference :: (link) :: U.S. Democratic Party Platform (2000)06/02/04 :: Quote :: Lao-TzuA leader is best when people barely know that he exists.
Less good when they obey and acclaim him.
Worse when they fear and despise him.
Fail to honor people, and they fail to honor you.
But of a good leader, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled,
they will say, "We did this ourselves."
05/30/05 :: Reference :: (link) :: U.S. Libertarian Platform (current)04/18/04 :: Quote :: Henry Stimson (Secretary of State)... gentlemen do not read each other's mail. 04/07/04 :: Quote :: Theodore RooseveltTo announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or anyone else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else. 02/25/07 :: Quote :: Bertrand RussellThere is no nonsense so errant that it cannot be made the creed of the vast majority by adequate governmental action. 02/10/07 :: Quote :: Sir Francis BaconSilence is the virtue of fools. 02/05/04 :: Article :: An Ounce of Prevention :: What if The People don't want to do what is good for them?01/28/08 :: Quote :: Hannah ArendtThe most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution. 01/24/05 :: Quote :: Charles de GaulleThe graveyards are full of indispensable men. 01/22/04 :: Article :: The Real Voodoo :: The Recession argument is conducted poorly  12/01/03 :: Quote :: Abraham Lincoln
We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness o [...] 11/23/05 :: Quote :: Henry David ThoreauAny fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it. 11/23/03 :: Reference :: (link) :: Guerrilla News Network11/13/03 :: Quote :: Michael PaineAn important art of politicians is to find new names for institutions which under old names have become odious to the public. 10/18/04 :: Article :: The problem with Conservatives and Liberals :: A bizarre thought I had to get down on paper10/09/03 :: Reference :: (link) :: Two Civilized Men Among the Barbarians09/04/03 :: Quote :: SupertrampNow watch what you say
They'll be calling you a radical, liberal,
Fanatical, criminal.
Won't you sign up your name?
We'd like to feel you're acceptable, respectable,
Presentable, a vegetable. 09/04/03 :: Quote :: Napoleon BonaparteTen people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent. 09/04/03 :: Quote :: Søren KierkegaardPeople demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid. 08/04/05 :: Quote :: Benjamin FranklinIn these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, [...] 08/01/05 :: Quote :: Thomas JeffersonShake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear.
07/24/03 :: Reference :: (link) :: The Future Begins Now07/24/03 :: Reference :: (link) :: Ghost In The Machine07/05/03 :: Reference :: (link) :: Issues2000.org07/02/03 :: Reference :: (link) :: U.S. missile strike kills al Qaeda chief07/02/03 :: Reference :: (link) :: Bush Slow to OK Drones in Bin Laden Hunt07/02/03 :: Reference :: (link) :: United States divorce statistics07/02/03 :: Reference :: (link) :: World-wide divorce statistics05/12/06 :: Quote :: Patrick Henry [disputed]Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! 05/12/06 :: Quote :: AristotleA tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side. 05/12/06 :: Quote :: Patrick HenryThe liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them. 05/07/04 :: Article :: Beware the demonizers :: How to spot crap on sight03/15/05 :: Quote :: Oscar AmeringerPolitics -- the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich by promising to protect each from the other. 02/25/07 :: Quote :: Bertrand RussellMost people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so. 02/19/04 :: Article :: Minority Report :: Conflict of interest in the Minority Party01/05/04 :: Quote :: Hermann Goering, Nazi Reichsmarshall and Luftwaffe-Chief (Hitler's right-hand man)We got around to the subject of war again and I said that, contrary to his attitude, I did not think that the common people are very thankful for leaders who bring them war and destruction.
"Why, of course, the people don't want war," Goering shrugged. "Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one pie [...] |
