Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master." –George Washington, First President of the U.S. 1732-1799

The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so that the second will not become the legalized version of the first." –Thomas Jefferson, Third President of the U.S., 1743-1826

The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and our interests."–Patrick Henry, Attorney, Planter, Governor of Virginia 1736-1799

When the people fear government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty."–Thomas Jefferson, Third President of the U.S., 1743-1826

Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories."–Thomas Jefferson, Third President of the U.S., 1743-1826

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one"–Thomas Paine, political Activist, Author, Revolutionary , 1737-1809

A free people claim their rights as derived from the laws of nature, and not as a gift of their chief magistrate." –Thomas Jefferson, Third President of the U.S., 1743-1826

It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here." –Patrick Henry, Attorney, Planter, Governor of Virginia 1736-1799

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies." –Thomas Jefferson, Third President of the U.S., 1743-1826

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty to throw of such government, and to provide new guards for their future security."–U.S. Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776