When befriended, remember it:
When you befriend, forget it.
Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1740
Shake off all the fears & servile prejudices under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal 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.
Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787
You do not overrate the interest I feel in the University, as the Temple thro which alone lies the road to that of Liberty.
James Madison, letter to Thomas Jefferson, February 24, 1826
What a snob!
There has been among us a party for some years, consisting chiefly not of the descendents of the first settlers of this country but of high churchmen and high statesmen, imported since, who effect to censure this provision for the education of our youth as a needless expence, and an imposition on the rich in favour of the poor - and as an institution productive of idleness and vain speculation among the people, whose time and attention it is said ought to be devoted to labour, and not to public affairs or to examination into the conduct of their superiours. …………The preservation of the means of knowledge, among the lowest ranks, is of more importance to the public, than all the property of all the rich men in the country. It is even of more consequence to the rich themselves, and to their posterity. The only question is whether it is a public emolument? and if it is, the rich ought undoubtedly to contribute in the same proportion, as to all other public burdens, i.e. in proportion to their wealth which is secured by public expences.
John Adams, A Dissertation on the Canon and the Feudal Law No. 3, September 30, 1765
Adams was a believer in the benefits of education for all, provided for by law. I personally think that public education is one of the great accomplishments of civilization, and am appalled to see it so attacked lately. Here in Michigan we have legislators who would like to privatize virtually all of it. I’d like to re-privatize them.
It is impossible to exculpate a people, that suffers its rulers to abuse and tyrannize over others.
Alexander Hamilton, A Full Vindication of the Measures of the Congress, 1774
It’s unfortunate that, although America has been willing to point the finger at other countries over this, it tends to deny its own such faults.
The Men who oppose a strong & energetic government are, in my opinion, narrow minded politicians, or are under the influence of local views. The apprehension expressed by them that the people will not accede to the form proposed is the ostensible, not the real cause of the opposition - but admitting that the present sentiment is as they prognosticate, the question ought nevertheless to be, is it or is it not, the best form? If the former, recommend it, and it will assuredly obtain mauger opposition.
George Washington, letter to Alexander Hamilton, July 10, 1787
When an Indian Child has been brought up among us, taught our language and habituated to our Customs, yet if he goes to see his relations and make one Indian Ramble with them, there is no perswading him ever to return, and that this is not natural to them merely as Indians, but as men, is plain from this, that when white persons of either sex have been taken prisoners young by the Indians, and lived a while among them, tho’ ransomed by their Friends, and treated with all imaginable tenderness to prevail with them to stay among the English, yet in a Short time they become disgusted with our manner of life, and the care and pains that are necessary to support it, and take the first good Opportunity of escaping again into the Woods, from whence there is no reclaiming them.
Benjamin Franklin, letter to Peter Collinson, May 9, 1753
Typing this was when I realized - this is all just one long sentence!
Since the promulgation of christianity, the two greatest systems of tyranny, that have sprung from this original, are the cannon and the feudal law.
John Adams, Dissertation on the Canon and the Feudal Law No. 1, August 12, 1765
Were it necessary however to form an opinion, I confess I should, with Mr. Locke, prefer swallowing one incomprehensibility rather than two. I requires one effort only to admit the single incomprehensibility of matter endowed with thought: and two to believe, 1st. that of an existence called Spirit, of which we have neither evidence nor idea, and then 2ndly. how that spirit which has neither extension nor solidity, can put material organs into motion. These are things which you and I may perhaps know ere long.
Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Adams, March 14, 1820
In no case ought the eyes of the people to be shut on the conduct of those entrusted with power; nor their tongues tied from a just wholesome censure on it, any more than from merited commendations. If neither gratitude for the honor of the trust, nor responsibility for the use of it, be sufficient to curb the unruly passions of public functionaries, add new bits to the bridle rather than to take it off altogether.
James Madison, Political Reflections, February 23, 1799
