furnace of affliction

Alas, it is the last day of July, and the end of my patriotic quote month. I must say I will miss it, it's been fun diving into old documents and searching the web for good words from our Founding Fathers. (i'm a nerd!)

This last quote I think is really relevant to Americans today. I'd say we are going through a furnace of affliction right now. Fears of the economy, gas prices, presidential election, failed & corrupted Congress...all these things could make us afraid, could make us lose faith in America.

But we need this time as a nation. We need to go through the furnace every now and then. When we emerge from the other side, we will only be a stronger, better nation. I only hope that the furnace does not break us, and that we look at this time as opportunity to go back to our Founding Fathers' beliefs and virtues.


The furnace of affliction produces refinement in states as well as individuals. And the new Governments we are assuming in every part will require a purification from our vices, and an augmentation of our virtues, or they will be no blessings.

John Adams
Letter to Abigail Adams
July 3, 1776

flames kindled

The flames kindled on the Fourth of July, 1776, have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism; on the contrary, they will consume these engines and all who work them.

Thomas Jefferson to John Adams
1821

I am an American

Eesh I go on vacation and leave you starving for some more quotes from our Founding Fathers! Here's a quote each day I missed (fri, sat, sun, mon) and a quote for today!

I anticipate the Day when to command Respect in the remotest Regions it will be sufficient to say I am an American. Our Flag shall then wave in Glory over the Ocean and our Commerce feel no Restraint but what our own Government may impose. Happy thrice happy Day. Thank God, to reach this envied State we need only to Will. Yes my countrymen. Our Destiny depends on our Will.

Gouverneur Morris
Speech in 1800

This government, the offspring of our own choice uninfluenced and unawed, adopted upon full investigation and mature deliberation, completely free in its principles, in the distribution of its powers, uniting security with energy, and containing within itself a provision for its own amendment, has a just claim to your confidence and your support.

George Washington
Farewell Address
Sep 19, 1796

The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the Union of the States be cherished and perpetuated.

James Madison
Advice to My Country
Fall 1834

I charge them, on a father’s blessing, never to let the motives of private interest or ambition to induce them to betray, nor the terrors of poverty and disgrace, or the fear of danger or of death deter them from asserting the liberty of their country, and endeavoring to transmit to their posterity those sacred rights to which themselves were born.

George Mason
To his sons
Last Will & Testament

Independence Forever!

John Adams
July 4, 1826
on the 50 yr anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and date of his & Thomas Jefferson’s death

ravishing Light and Glory

Sorry...forgot to post quotes on Friday! So you get 4 today :) and they are good ones! just like all the others ;)

Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means.

John Adams
Letter to Abigail Adams
July 3, 1776

Let us recollect it was liberty, the hope of liberty for themselves and us and ours, which conquered all discouragements, dangers, and trials.

John Adams on America's first colonists
Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law 1765

Let the only contest be, who shall be foremost in defending his country.

John Jay
to the General Committee of Tryon County
July 22, 1777

I have not yet begun to fight.

attributed to John Paul Jones
Sep 23, 1779

we the PEOPLE

Happy weekend! 3 quotes for you today :)

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The Constitution of the United States, Preamble
1787

What do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments, of their duties and obligations... This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people was the real American Revolution.

John Adams
Letter to H. Niles
Feb 13, 1818

If it be asked, What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? The answer would be, An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws — the first growing out of the last... A sacred respect for the constitutional law is the vital principle, the sustaining energy of a free government.

Alexander Hamilton
Aug 28, 1794

independence day

I probably won't be around a computer much this weekend, so today you get 4 quotes! One for today and three for the weekend. What a treat =)

Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives.
John Adams to Benjamin Rush
April 18, 1808

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776

There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free--if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable pirvileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves nver to abandon, until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight!!

Give me liberty, or give me death!
both quotes from Patrick Henry - Speech at St. Johns Church
March 25, 1775