On This 4th of July Let Us Remember

“Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace–but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” – Patrick Henry March 23, 1775

“Freedom of thought and the right of private judgment, in matters of conscience, driven from every other corner of the earth, direct their course to this happy country as their last asylum.” – Samuel Adams August 1, 1776

“Yesterday the greatest question was decided… and a greater question perhaps never was nor will be decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states.” – John Adams, Letter to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776

“We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” – Benjamin Franklin (attributed) July 4, 1776

“There, I guess King George will be able to read that!” – John Hancock (attributed) upon signing the Declaration of Independence

“Sir, we are not weak is we make a proper use of those means which God hath placed in our power. Three millions of people armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us…. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.” – Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775

“The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time; the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them.” – Thomas Jefferson, A Summary View of the Rights of British America, circa 1774

“These are the times that try men’s’ souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; bur that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny…..is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” – Thomas Paine, Intro to the The Crisis, December 19, 1776