In a chariot of light from the region of the day, the Goddess of Liberty came. She brought in her hand as a pledge of her love, the plant she named Liberty Tree.
— Thomas Paine
Most Powerful 4th Of July Wishes quotations
I can only say that there is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do to see a plan adopted for the abolition of slavery.

I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations, in examples of justice and liberality.

Under the law of nature, all men are born free, every one comes into the world with a right to his own person, which includes the liberty of moving and using it at his own will. This is what is called personal liberty, and is given him by the Author
My first wish is, to see this plague of mankind banished from the earth, and the sons and daughters of this world employed in more pleasing and innocent amusements, than in preparing implements, and exercising them, for the destruction of mankind.
Let freedom never perish in your hands.

Wish not so much to live long as to live well.
When I was little I thought, isn't it nice that everybody celebrates on my birthday? Because it's July 4th.
So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

That which distinguishes this day from all others is that then both orators and artillerymen shoot blank cartridges.