Table of Contents
In history, few figures stand as prominently as the founding fathers of the United States. This collection brings together the insights and timeless wisdom of those men: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison.
Each quote selected for this anthology of sayings not only captures the essence of the revolutionary spirit that birthed a nation, but also illuminates the intellectual vigor and moral depth these men brought to the fore of American identity.
It’s my hope that the wisdom in these quotes inspires, educates, and provokes thought, as it has done for generations.
George Washington Quotes
“Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for ’tis better to be alone than in bad company.”
“It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.”
“Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.”
“To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.”
“Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.”
Thomas Jefferson Quotes
“I cannot live without books.”
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
“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.”
“When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, a hundred.”
“I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.”
John Adams Quotes
“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”
“There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by the sword. The other is by debt.”
“Liberty, according to my metaphysics, is a self-determining power in an intellectual agent. It implies thought and choice and power.”
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
“You will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.”
Benjamin Franklin Quotes
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
“Well done is better than well said.”
“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
Alexander Hamilton Quotes
“Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.”
“A well-adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without getting nervous.”
“The constitution shall never be construed… to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”
“Power over a man’s subsistence is power over his will.”
“Men give me credit for some genius. All the genius I have lies in this; when I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly.”
John Jay Quotes
“Those who own the country ought to govern it.”
– John Jay
“The establishment of civil and religious liberty was the motive which induced me to the field.”
– John Jay
“No power on earth has a right to take our property from us without our consent.”
– John Jay
“The Bible is the best of all books, for it is the word of God and teaches us the way to be happy in this world and in the next. Continue therefore to read it and to regulate your life by its precepts.”
– John Jay
James Madison Quotes
“If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”
“The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.”
“The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home.”
“Conscience is the most sacred of all property.”
“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives.”
