This Independence Day, consider the words of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and one of the most influential Founding Fathers:
“Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.”
“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”
“The flames kindled on the 4 of July 1776, have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism; on the contrary, they will consume these engines and all who work them.”
“A government big enough to supply you with everything you need is a government big enough to take away everything that you have.... The course of history shows that as the government grows, liberty decreases.”
“A society that will trade a little liberty for a little order will lose both, and deserve neither.”
“The liberty of speaking and writing guards our other liberties.”
“The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time; the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them.”
May liberty be preserved and God be praised. Happy Independence Day!