The Marriner Foundation

Constitutions should consist only of general provisions; the reason is that they must necessarily be permanent, and that they cannot calculate for the possible change of things. -Alexander Hamilton

In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men the great difficulty lies in this: You must first enable the government to control the governed, and in the next place, oblige it to control itself. -Alexander Hamilton

It’s not tyranny we desire; it’s a just, limited, federal government. -Alexander Hamilton

All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. -Thomas Jefferson

Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto. -Thomas Jefferson

Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state. -Thomas Jefferson

I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be. -Thomas Jefferson

Americans have the right and advantage of being armed – unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms. -James Madison

It is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad. -James Madison

Richard :: May.27.2009 :: Personal Thoughts :: No Comments »

Quotes I find of interest from George Washington;

Experience teaches us that it is much easier to prevent an enemy from posting themselves than it is to dislodge them after they have got possession.

Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples’ liberty’s teeth.

Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.

If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known, that we are at all times ready for War.

It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.

Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God.

Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government.

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.

The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low that every person of sense and character detests and despises it.

The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.

The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves.

The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference – they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good.

To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.

Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.

Richard :: May.27.2009 :: Personal Thoughts :: Comments Off

Quotes from John Adams that I find of interest.

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

Arms in the hands of citizens may be used at individual discretion… in private self-defense.

As much as I converse with sages and heroes, they have very little of my love and admiration. I long for rural and domestic scene, for the warbling of birds and the prattling of my children.

Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war.

All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arise, not from defects in their Constitution or Confederation, not from want of honor or virtue, so much as from the downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit and circulation.

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.

Property is surely a right of mankind as real as liberty.

Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.

The happiness of society is the end of government.

The Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation. If I were an atheist, and believed blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations.

There are two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live.

While all other sciences have advanced, that of government is at a standstill – little better understood, little better practiced now than three or four thousand years ago.

Richard :: May.27.2009 :: Personal Thoughts :: Comments Off

A father watched his young daughter playing in the garden.
He smiled as he reflected on how sweet and pure his little girl was.
Tears formed in his eyes as he thought about her seeing the wonders of nature through such innocent eyes.
Suddenly she just stopped and stared at the ground.
He went over to her to see what work of God had captured her attention..
He noticed she was looking at two spiders mating.
‘Daddy, what are those two spiders doing?’ she asked.
‘They’re mating,’ her father replied.
‘What do you call the spider on top?’ she asked.
‘That’s a Daddy Longlegs,’ her father answered.
‘So, the other one is a Mommy Longlegs?’ the little girl asked.
As his heart soared with the joy of such a cute and innocent question he replied, ‘No dear. Both of them are Daddy Longlegs.’
‘The little girl, looking a little puzzled, thought for a moment, then lifted her foot and stomped them flat…
‘Well, we’re not having any of that gay shit in our garden’ she said.

Richard :: May.09.2009 :: Personal Thoughts :: No Comments »