170 Founding Fathers Quotes

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Famous Founding Fathers Quotes

America was founded by people who believe that God is their Rock of safety. — Ronald Reagan

Even the Founding Fathers of the U.S., nowadays considered the model of a democracy, were strictly opposed to it. Without a single exception, they thought of democracy as nothing but mob-rule. — Hans-Hermann Hoppe

American government was founded on a belief and a faith in God and in doing what is right and just. — Ginny Brown-Waite

The Founders knew that a democracy would lead to some kind of tyranny. The term democracy appears in none of our Founding documents. Their vision for us was a Republic and limited government. — Walter E. Williams

Government itself is founded upon the great doctrine of the consent of the governed, and has its cornerstone in the memorable principle that men are endowed with inalienable rights. — Leland Stanford

Most of the founders of this country had day jobs for years. They were not career politicians. ... We need leaders with experience in the real world, not experience in the phony world of politics. — Thomas Sowell

Ours is the only country deliberately founded on a good idea. — John Gunther

The Founders warned that a free society depends on a virtuous and moral people. The current crisis reflects that their concerns were justified. — Ron Paul

The founding document of the United States of America acknowledges the Lordship of Jesus Christ because we are a Christian nation. — Pat Robertson

Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. — Abraham Lincoln

He who made all men hath made the truths necessary to human happiness obvious to all. Our forefathers opened the Bible to all. — Samuel Adams

Most Americans aren't the sort of citizens the Founding Fathers expected; they are contented serfs. Far from being active critics of government, they assume that its might makes it right. — Joseph Sobran

For my part, I sincerely esteem the Constitution, a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests. — Alexander Hamilton

Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed — Walter E. Williams

We are now forming a republican government. Real liberty is never found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments. — Alexander Hamilton

Anti-religion Founding Fathers Quotes

Those who live by mystery & charlatanerie, fearing you would render them useless by simplifying the Christian philosophy - the most sublime and benevolent, but most perverted system that ever shone on man - endeavored to crush your well-earned & well-deserved fame. — Thomas Jefferson

The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. — Thomas Jefferson

I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man. — Thomas Jefferson

Founding fathers quote You'll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is
You'll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.

The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter. — Thomas Jefferson

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. — James Madison

In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own. — Thomas Jefferson

Founding fathers quote I have found that if you love life, life will love you back.
I have found that if you love life, life will love you back.

... happily the Government of the United States... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance. — George Washington

Question with boldness even the existence of a god. — Thomas Jefferson

The study of theology, as it stands in Christian churches, is the study of nothing; it is founded on nothing; it rests on no principles; it proceeds by no authorities; it has no data; it can demonstrate nothing; and it admits of no conclusion. — Thomas Paine

I can't tell Black people to fight a war that is Israel's war. What kind of leader will you be, or should I be, to allow these babies Black, white and brown, to fight Israel's war, because Zionists dominate the government of the United States of America and her banking system. — Louis Farrakhan

Christian Founding Fathers Quotes

Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual… Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us. — John Hancock

The only foundation for . . . a republic is to be laid in Religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments. — Benjamin Rush

Let us by wise and constitutional measures promote intelligence among the people as the best means of preserving our liberties. — James Monroe

Founding fathers quote You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success
You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.

July 4th ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion. — John Adams

Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society. — George Washington

My heart trembles when I reflect that God is just — Thomas Jefferson

Without Virtue there can be no liberty - Benjamin Rush

Without Virtue there can be no liberty — Benjamin Rush

The hocus-pocus phantasm of a God, like another Cerberus, with one body and three heads, had its birth and growth in the blood of thousands and thousands of martyrs. — Thomas Jefferson

The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained... — George Washington

Cursed be all that learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ. — James Madison

Our Founding Fathers Quotes

Our heavenly Father understands our disappointment, suffering, pain, fear, and doubt. He is always there to encourage our hearts and help us understand that He's sufficient for all of our needs. When I accepted this as an absolute truth in my life, I found that my worrying stopped. — Charles Stanley

Lighthouses are more helpful than churches. — Benjamin Franklin

The path of progress is seldom smooth. New things are often found hard to do. Our fathers found them so. We find them so. But are we not made better for the effort and scarifice? — William McKinley

Founding fathers quote The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don
The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. s with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.

You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence. — Charles Austin Beard

[Our Constitution] is an instrument for the people to restrain the government. — Patrick Henry

The rights essential to happiness. . . . We claim them from a higher source - from the King of kings and Lord of all the earth. — John Dickinson

Founding fathers quote I found that I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - thing I ha
I found that I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - thing I had no words for.

Equality, rightly understood as our founding fathers understood it, leads to liberty and to the emancipation of creative differences; wrongly understood, as it has been so tragically in our time, it leads first to conformity and then to despotism. — Barry Goldwater

Congress has no power to make any religious establishments. — Roger Sherman

Coercion by government, the main fear of our founding fathers, is now its most common attribute. — Philip K. Howard

The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die. — George Washington

Founding Fathers Christian Quotes

America was born a Christian nation. — Woodrow Wilson

Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion that has ever infected the world. — Voltaire

Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. — Abraham Lincoln

Founding fathers quote Hold dear to your parents for it is a scary and confusing world without them.
Hold dear to your parents for it is a scary and confusing world without them.

Religion is the only solid Base of morals and that Morals are the only possible Support of free governments. — Gouverneur Morris

The only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government is the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by means of the Bible. — Benjamin Rush

We Recognize No Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus! — John Adams

Founding fathers quote Don't lose yourself just because you found somebody
Don't lose yourself just because you found somebody

I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning. — Benjamin Franklin

America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of the Holy Scripture. — Woodrow Wilson

Mystery is made a convenient Cover for absurdity. — John Adams

It is the duty of every true Deist to vindicate the moral justice of God against the evils of the Bible. — Thomas Paine

Us Founding Fathers Quotes

The Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms. — Samuel Adams

All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should. — Samuel Adams

Discipline is the soul of an army. — George Washington

Founding fathers quote Watch you thoughts, for they become words. Watch you words, for they become actions. Watch your acti
Watch you thoughts, for they become words. Watch you words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for the become you character. And watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. What we think, we become. My father always said that. And I think I am fine.

We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. — Thomas Jefferson

Laws that forbid the carrying of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. — Thomas Jefferson

If ever again our nation stumbles upon unfunded paper, it shall surely be like death to our body politic. This country will crash. — George Washington

Founding fathers quote One of the greatest thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.
One of the greatest thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.

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. — George Washington

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. — Joseph Story

If our Founding Fathers wanted us to care about the rest of the world, they wouldn't have declared their independence from it. — Stephen Colbert

I have sworn upon the altar of god. — Thomas Jefferson

Founding Fathers Democracy Quotes

The rich will strive to establish their dominion and enslave the rest. They always did...they always will. They will have the same effect here as elsewhere, if we do not, by the power of government, keep them in their proper spheres. — Gouverneur Morris

He that cannot obey, cannot command. — Benjamin Franklin

A candle loses nothing when it lights another candle. — Thomas Jefferson

Founding fathers quote If you haven't found it yet, keep looking.
If you haven't found it yet, keep looking.

Between a balanced republic and a democracy, the difference is like that between order and chaos. — John Marshall

Genius is nothing but a greater aptitude for patience. — Benjamin Franklin

All Americans mourn the passing of the author of the Declaration of Independence, George Jefferson. — Andy Borowitz

Founding fathers quote There is no passion to be found playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one your
There is no passion to be found playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one your are capable of living.

We should make the poor uncomfortable and kick them out of poverty. — Benjamin Franklin

The experience of all former ages had shown that of all human governments, democracy was the most unstable, fluctuating and short-lived. — John Quincy Adams

Isn't it somewhat remarkable that we can go back a a few hundred years and find no shortage of quotations from our founding fathers warning us against the dangers of democracy, yet today teachers and politicians use the word as if it were an offering of gold. — Neal Boortz

you can do anything you set your mind to — Benjamin Franklin

Founding Fathers Religion Quotes

The government of the United States of America has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims. — John Adams

Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause. — George Washington

It is the religion of ignorance that tyranny begins. — Benjamin Franklin

Nothing is more dreaded than the national government meddling with religion. — John Adams

Outlawing religion form the political arena is not what the Founding Fathers intended when they drafted the First Amendment. We do a grave disservice to our country by removing the influence of religion. If you separate God from the public arena, inevitably you separate good from our government. — Bill Bright

What is it the Bible teaches us? -- rapine, cruelty, and murder. — Thomas Paine

I never liked the Hierarchy of the Church-an equality in the teacher of Religion, and a dependence on the people, are republican sentiments-but if the Clergy combine, they will have their influence on Government — Rufus King

Banks have done more injury to the religion, morality, tranquility, prosperity, and even wealth of the nation than they can have done or ever will do good. — John Adams

But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legends have been blended with both Jewish and Christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed? — John Adams

I have found Christian dogma unintelligible. Early in life, I absenteed myself from Christian assemblies. — Benjamin Franklin

Founding Fathers Religious Quotes

Without God there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first, the most basic, expression of Americanism. Thus, the founding fathers of America saw it, and thus with God's help, it will continue to be. — Dwight D. Eisenhower

The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God. — John Adams

[All religious sects] dread the advance of science as witches do the approach of daylight; and scowl on the fatal harbinger announcing the subversion of the duperies in which they live. — Thomas Jefferson

The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity — John Adams

Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can exist apart from religious principle. — George Washington

Let us with Caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. — George Washington

It is evident from their writings that the Founding Fathers would never have tolerated the separation that we have embraced today. They knew that religious principles provided morality and self-control - the lifeblood for the survival of any self-governing community. — David Barton

This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it. — John Adams

It is impossible to account for the creation of the universe without the agency of a Supreme Being. — George Washington

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. — Thomas Jefferson

American Founding Fathers Quotes

I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president - not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans. — Caroline Kennedy

The soul of man is immortal and imperishable. — Plato

In view of the tide of religiosity engulfing a once secular republic it is refreshing to be reminded by Freethinkers that free thought and skepticism are robustly in the American tradition. After all the Founding Fathers began by omitting God from the American Constitution. — Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

The study of theology, as it stands in the Christian churches, is the study of nothing. — Thomas Paine

Our country was founded on a distrust of government. Our founding fathers gave power to the people to keep an eye on government. So when politicians say, 'Trust me,' they're actually being very un-American. — David Duchovny

Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be worshipped. — Benjamin Franklin

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes. — Thomas Jefferson

Ecclesiastical establishments tend to great ignorance and corruption — James Madison

Have you considered that system of holy lies and pious frauds that has raged and triumphed for 1,500 years? — John Adams

Franklin may . . . be considered one of the founding fathers of American democracy, since no democratic government can last long without conciliation and compromise. — Samuel Eliot Morison

Founding Fathers Of America Quotes

The God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? — Thomas Jefferson

The Founding Fathers of America never intended to stop people expressing their faith in the public square. But unfortunately that is the way it is happened. — John Lennox

For an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man. — Thomas Jefferson

Those who enjoy the blessings of liberty under a divinely inspired constitution should promote morality, and they should practice what the Founding Fathers called civic virtue. — Dallin H. Oaks

I believe ... that the soul of man is immortal and will be treated with justice in another life, respecting its conduct in this. — Benjamin Franklin

The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend to all the happiness of man. — Thomas Jefferson

The United States of America should have a foundation free from the influence of clergy. — George Washington

Christianity is the only true and perfect religion. — Benjamin Rush

Without religion this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in polite company, I mean Hell. — John Adams

Democracy is something America has never really practiced. Because the Founding Fathers hated two things: monarchy and democracy. They wanted a republic, a replica of the Roman or Venetian republics. They didn't even like the etymology of the word "democracy." — Gore Vidal

People Writing About Founding Fathers

Name Quotes Likes
Read quotes by Walter E. Williams

Walter E. Williams
quotes on leadership, education and slavery

136 1776
Read quotes by Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton
quotes on education, federalism and tyranny

362 9118
Read quotes by Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan
quotes on socialism, freedom and government

1059 19098
Read quotes by Hans-Hermann Hoppe

Hans-Hermann Hoppe
quotes on music, education and leadership

21 586
Read quotes by Ginny Brown-Waite

Ginny Brown-Waite
quotes on education, love and happiness

31 222
Read quotes by Leland Stanford

Leland Stanford
quotes on education, love and society

33 206

More Founding Fathers Quotes

The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of public men. - Samuel Adams quote

The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of public men. — Samuel Adams

When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil. — Thomas Jefferson

Laws that forbid the carrying 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

In the United States, the Constitution is a health chart left by the Founding Fathers which shows whether or not the body politic is in good health. If the national body is found to be in poor health, the Founding Fathers also left a prescription for the restoration of health called the Declaration of Independence. — Dick Gregory

Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States. — Noah Webster

Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote...that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country. — Samuel Adams

I was born an only child in Vienna, Austria. My father found hours to sit by me by the library fire and tell fairy stories. — Hedy Lamarr

My dad was a complicated man. He was a huge racist, my dad, but he still tried to be a good father, you know? Like, he would tell me that Santa Claus was black - that way, when I found out he didn't exist, it wouldn't be that big a let down. — Anthony Jeselnik

What was silent in the father speaks in the son, and often I found in the son the unveiled secret of the father. — Friedrich Nietzsche

The Law found more than it lost when Christ said, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven’ (Matthew 5:44-45). This most important commandment summarizes in a word the universal discipline of patience, since it does not allow us to do evil even to people who deserve it. — Tertullian

Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks. — Thomas Jefferson

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