Monday, June 26, 2006

The Liberty Quote

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.
- Thomas Jefferson
Is this the often misquoted line from Mr. Jefferson that get's passed around every time the Patriot Act or Sobriety check points are debated? (FYI: I favor the former, oppose the latter.) Usually I hear something like: "I would rather have too much freedom than not enough" or "Those who would trade freedom for security deserve neither." It's usually attributed to anyone from Frankiln to Washington.

I need to research this a bit, I'd be interested to find what quotes follow this theme and how often they cross. Now I'm in the mood to pick up a couple David McCullough books. Regardless of the infrigements, this is a stirring quote that I plan to keep forward in my thoughts.

Now if you thought that was a good one, here's more wisdom from Mr. Jefferson:
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)
I do not take a single newspaper, nor read one a month, and I feel myself infinitely the happier for it.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)

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