What is Your Favorite Patriotic Quote?

[Stephen Lilley]

"It is true that liberty is precious; so precious that it must be carefully rationed."
--Lenin

[dart67eb]

We're all Americans here.  Let's not forget what that means.

[sashok.privetov]

"It is true that liberty is precious; so precious that it must be carefully rationed."
--Lenin

Now why is it that someone immediately thinks of lenin after I post?

[JustJeff]

"It is true that liberty is precious; so precious that it must be carefully rationed."
--Lenin

Now why is it that someone immediately thinks of lenin after I post?

[Stephen Lilley]

I think I understand Dart67eb's concerns about the Lenin quote.  I probably should have attached an explanation to it.  I suspect many of us agree that some who take up the responsibility of governing distrust the people who put them in office.  Too often they consider themselves more enlightened than their fellow citizens and decide how much freedom they should be allowed.

Obviously, I disagree with Lenin just as I do those who have knowingly or unknowingly become his disciples.

[Son of Isaac]

We're all Americans here.  Let's not forget what that means.

Are we all Americans here?  I hope this is not so.  

             "The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren," ~Thomas Paine

Are patriotism and liberty uniquely American?  

Yes, the root of this thread is American patriotism, from which springs the tree of our liberty.  

But let us not forget that the world is filled with a human race who envies that which we believe is "uniquely American."  

And throughout history, those liberties, whether American, Russian or German have been attacked and oppressed by regimes that would seek to shackle this value system we hold so dear.  

Should we quote Lenin, to remind us that we are a people of Washington?  I believe we should.  

Lenin believed that liberty should be rationed.  Washington believed that liberty must be entrusted to the hands of the American people.

"It is true that liberty is precious; so precious that it must be carefully rationed."
--Lenin

                "The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the republican model of government, are justly considered deeply,
                  perhaps as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people." --George Washington


Should we silence the words of Hitler so that history may forget his path to oppression?  I believe we must not.

Hitler believed an ignorant people could be ruled.  Our founding fathers believed that an educated people should rule themselves.

How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don't think.  - Adolf Hitler

                     "Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government."  ~Thomas Jefferson

The words of Hitler and Lenin serve to define our patriotism as much as the words of Washington and Jefferson.  Without contrast, the actions of our forefathers cease to be heroic.

We cannot forget what makes us different.  Our country is unique and envied by the world because we chose to be different.  If we choose to forget what makes us different, then different we will cease to be.

~TravelPatriot

[Johnnyappleseed]

How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don't think.  - Adolf Hitler

I came across this one a few minutes ago.  Not exactly patriotic but it is thought provoking.  

Agreed.  Very thought provoking.  I just watched "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich:  A History of Nazi Germany" on the History channel this week.  The seires took particular time to document the life of the German civilian during the reign of Hitler.  Facinating.

~TravelPatriot
I saw a brief portion of that documentary --- The part that I recall was "When Hitler was appointed chancellor " With one word, appointed as opposed to the correct word Elected ---history channel changed an important fact regarding democracy --the fact a Hitler can get elected and the rest is well history
JA

[Johnnyappleseed]

ooooops so sorry for the thread hi --jack --feel free to delete or move .
Tr4avel Patriot you are so good at starting these new threads ^5
JA

[Son of Isaac]

"Never trust a government that doesn't trust its own citizens with guns"

~Benjamin Franklin

[Son of Isaac]

"Any society that would give up liberty to gain security will deserve neither and lose both"

~Benjamin Franklin

[Son of Isaac]

"No man's life, liberty or fortune is safe while our legislature is in session."

~Mark Twain

[Super Dave]

~TravelPatriot
I saw a brief portion of that documentary --- The part that I recall was "When Hitler was appointed chancellor " With one word, appointed as opposed to the correct word Elected ---history channel changed an important fact regarding democracy --the fact a Hitler can get elected and the rest is well history
JA

Also important to note German philosophers:  Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, Marx...  The collectivized ideas of these men were pervasive in German society.  National socialism was just another part of what they were fed from academia.  Yes, they elected him. 

A lot of that has been fed here, but there are some that get individual rights and the nature of self governance that was the foundational principle of this nation.  Maybe a more recent quote by a philosopher that resided in America is appropriate.

"The Right to the Pursuit of Happiness means man's right to live for himself, to choose what constitutes his own private, personal, individual happiness, and to work for its achievement so long as he respects the same right in others." - Rand

[Johnnyappleseed]

Thanx Super Dave --well stated how the govt  schools and the philosophys of these nalt socialists were promoted to fullfill the NAZI agenda.

I wonder how the "History Channel" could  have made such a huge error regarding the democratic election of Hitler
Bet we could add biased media to the list you outlined 

Has anyone seen a doucumentary on Rand? I understand her book was the 2 most influencial book ever written .
I was never exposed to her philosophy in all my years of schooling ----including several philosophy classes
JA

[Piker]

"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." - Thomas Jefferson

[Super Dave]

Thanx Super Dave --well stated how the govt  schools and the philosophys of these nalt socialists were promoted to fullfill the NAZI agenda.

I wonder how the "History Channel" could  have made such a huge error regarding the democratic election of Hitler
Bet we could add biased media to the list you outlined 

Yeah, it's strange, isn't it...

Has anyone seen a doucumentary on Rand? I understand her book was the 2 most influencial book ever written .
I was never exposed to her philosophy in all my years of schooling ----including several philosophy classes
JA

I haven't seen a documentary.  There are some books, and some are quite critical of her personally. 

Atlas Shrugged, yeah, very influential.  I have a minor in philosophy, and Rand was non existent.  She has a lot of non fiction that is well worth reading. 

And, if you didn't know, the movie, Atlas Shrugged (Part I, as the book is big and in three parts anyway) is going to be released April 15, 2011.     It's no coincidence on the date either...

[M1D]

These are some of mine

"....with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."
Our first Congressmen

"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us....that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
A. Lincoln


"That's what we do.  We're Americans"
USN Corpsman

[Stephen Lilley]

I didn't see the history channel's Hitler documentary.  Actually, I receive neither cable nor satellite TV broadcasts.  However, Hitler WAS appointed German chancellor by president Paul von Hindenburg.  Hitler lost his bid for Germany's presidency, garnering roughly one third of the vote.  Hindenburg appointed Hitler his chancellor hoping to harness the energy and power of the National Socialists for his own ends.  The point remains the same.  Hitler rose to power in Weimar Germany through legal and democratic means.  It underscores the necessity of a vigilant, well-informed, and virtuous electorate.

Although I'm a latecomer, I'm enjoying the discussion.

[Son of Isaac]

Ok, as much as I like the History Channel and would be happy to discuss Hitler at length, it appears that we have officially wandered from the theme of this thread.  

Out of respect for the guidelines of this forum, let's bring our comments back to topic.  This has been a great thread; rich in content and camaraderie.  As we are guests of the Appleseed forum, we should take a moment to review our boundaries.  

(this reminder is as much for me as anyone)
(I happen to know where to find these guidelines because someone kindly, but firmly, called them to my attention after I bent, err... broke a few)  


General Board Etiquette:
http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=10226.0

1.   This is a family-friendly board. Do not use profanity or make offensive or lewd statements
2.   Refrain from name calling or character bashing of other posters
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5.   Disagree, but do it respectfully (see bullets #1-4)
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In the spirit of things, and quite possibly a candidate motto for Appleseed.....here is another great quote!  


"We must all hang together, gentlemen, else, we shall most assuredly hang separately."  

~Benjamin Franklin

[Stephen Lilley]

The power to tax involves the power to destroy.
--John Marshall

[Stephen Lilley]

And one more...

"Among other evils which being unarmed brings you, it causes you to be despised."
    --Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

[wcmartin1]

Liked this one so much I added it to my forum profile.


"I apprehend no danger to our country from a foreign foe ... Our destruction, should it come at all, will be from another quarter. -- From the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government, from their carelessness and negligence, I must confess that I do apprehend some danger. I fear that they may place too implicit a confidence in their public servants, and fail properly to scrutinize their conduct; that in this way they may be made the dupes of designing men, and become the instruments of their own undoing. Make them intelligent, and they will be vigilant; give them the means of detecting the wrong, and they will apply the remedy." - Daniel Webster, 1837


Seems I've heard something like this somewhere more recently. 

[Blue Five]

My favorite quote is one we hear often (at least I have) at Appleseeds by John Adams. 


"Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present Generation to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it."

[KuRRDoGG]

"Laws that forbid the carring of arms. . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. . . Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man."

Thomas Jefferson

[Son of Isaac]

I have a right to fail.  It is only through my failure that I found my salvation. 

~ Glenn Beck on Social Justice - 6/15/2011

[nmmi9100]

John Adams "Posterity" quote.

[Son of Isaac]

"But whether the Constitution really be one thing, or another, this much is certain - that it has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it."
~ Lysander Spooner

[Nickle]

"Ever since I arrived to a state of manhood...I have felt a sincere passion for liberty...so that the first...attempt at Lexington, to enslave America, thoroughly electrified my mind, and fully determined me to take part with my country."

--Ethan Allen, A Narrative of Col.
Ethan Allen's Captivity, 1779

"In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!"

-what Ethan Allen claims he answered when asked by what authority he was seizing Ft Ticonderoga. He reportedly said "Come out of there you old rat", or words to that effect.

[vernic82]

Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of Liberty. - Thomas Jefferson

[TruTenacity]

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians not on religions, 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."

- Speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses, May, 1765

Source: http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/patrick-henry-quotes.html

[Recon-one]

I like this one for its concise, unadulterated pragmatism. I think it should be required of all school children to memorize and recite it, if for no other reason than to confound those who say talking and understanding will lead to universal peace.

The quote; "the die (dice) is cast, Now blows must decide."
King George, after hearing the news of violence in America against royal troops.

This could not be considered a patriotic quote but it is most certainly part of our patriotic history.