FFQF: Funny Ben Franklin

See what’s up with today’s FFQF at Meet the Founders blog

Ben Franklin was one of the wittiest of the founding fathers. Here are some wise and witty things he wrote.

“Those who are wrapped up in themselves make small packages.”

“Fish and visitors stink after three days.”

“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”

“God heals and the doctor takes the fee.”

“If you would know the value of money try to borrow some.”

“Here comes the orator with his flood of words and his drop of reason.”

“He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.”

And one of my favorites….

“He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.”

LOL!

Photo courtesy of James Peniston Sculpture.

FFQF: Moral Authority, From Whence it Comes?

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Hercules Mulligan has begun a new theme for a new month. This month it is “moral authority.” What did America’s founding fathers say about the measuring stick for virtue in a free republic? Is it reason as the basis for virtue, that man inherently recognizes that which is good and virtuous? (Answer: no). What did our founders mean when they said virtue was absolutely necessary to maintain a free government?

Here’s something John Adams said:

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

Benjamin Rush, Adam’s contemporary and known as the “third most influential founder” of the American idea of liberty, said:

By renouncing the Bible, philosophers swing from their moorings upon all moral subjects. Our Saviour in speaking of it calls it the “Truth” in the abstract. It is the only correct map of the human heart that ever has been published. It contains a faithful representations of all its follies, vices, and crimes.

All systems of religion, morals, and government not founded upon it must perish, and how consoling the thought — it will not only survive the wreck of these systems but the world itself. “The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” (in a letter to John Adams, 1807)

and he also said this:

The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty.

I think Hercules Mulligan has chosen a very good theme for the month, especially meaningful in light of a new visitor’s center that has opened in Washington, DC. The visitor center is glaring in its glorification of government and its dismissal of God as the giver of our inalienable rights. As a matter of fact, one of the statements on display at the visitor’s center says:

We have built no temple but the Capitol. We consult no common oracle but the Constitution.

That statement reeks of dishonesty and self-gratification. It is not the American form of government that is so great, it is the foundation upon which it stands. Take that away, and our government is NOTHING.

George Washington said:

Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

On the contrary, here’s an interesting quote by none other than Joseph Stalin.

“America is like a healthy body and its resistance is three-fold: its patriotism, its morality and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within.” Joseph Stalin, former dictator of the Soviet Union

FFQF: Virtue Extravaganza

See what’s up with today’s FFQF at Meet the Founders blog

For this the final day of “virtue” as the topic for this month’s FFQF, I couldn’t choose just one. I decided to post a whole bunch of quotes! I don’t know about you, but I am savoring every word from these wise men.

Virtue toward the Constitution:

“No legislative act contrary to the Constitution can be valid. To deny this would be to affirm that the deputy (agent) is greater than his principal; that the servant is above the master; that the representatives of the people are superior to the people; that men, acting by virtue of powers may do not only what their powers do not authorize, but what they forbid. It is not to be supposed that the Constitution could intend to enable the representatives of the people to substitute their will to that of their constituents. A Constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by judges as fundamental law. If there should happen to be a irreconcilable variance between the two, the Constitution is to be preferred to the statute.” Alexander Hamilton

Electing virtuous candidates for office:

“In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate — look to his character….” Noah Webster

Necessity of a virtuous people to maintain free government:

“It is certainly true that a popular government cannot flourish without virtue in the people.” Richard Henry Lee

The virtue of eternal vigilance under a free government:

“Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves, therefore, are its only safe depositories.” Thomas Jefferson

Virtue is the primary ingredient and main support of free government. George Washington said it best, I think:

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity.

Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice?

And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?

…Can it be, that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a Nation with its Virtue? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human nature. Alas! is it rendered impossible by its vices?

Hey, did you know that for centuries, American schoolchildren were required to memorize Washington’s Farewell Address? This hasn’t been done in schools since.. well, since about the time that virtue and morality have taken a national nosedive! Now, why is that, I wonder?

FFQF: Sam Adams and Liberty

Oh my goodness, today is Friday and I completely forgot about FFQF! I am so bad. I got a new kitten yesterday, and this week has been a flurry of appointments, that I forgot about today! Better late than never, I guess!

See what’s up with today’s FFQF at Meet the Founders blog

“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.” Samuel Adams

This is my favorite quote of all times by my favorite founder of all times. I love Sam Adams. He was just so succinct, so virtuous, and so perceptive. And he always had a barbed comment at the right time in the right place. We would do well to heed his wise words.

Thanks for reading my FFQF! see who else is up to it today at Meet the Founders blog.

FFQF: Equality and Liberty

See what’s up with today’s FFQF at Meet the Founders blog

It’s Friday! So it’s Favorite Founder’s Quote Friday! It seems I’ve been posting a lot of Benjamin Franklin this month… not really intentional; I have just found so many good things he had to say for our topic this month (liberty).

I think this quote is very appropriate, in light of the government bailout of the gamblers on Wall Street. What a disgrace to our great nation to coddle the bankers and investors on the backs of the working people of America.

“The ordaining of laws in favor of one part of the nation, to the prejudice and oppression of another, is certainly the most erroneous and mistaken policy. An equal dispensation of protection, rights, privileges, and advantages, is what every part is entitled to, and ought to enjoy.” Benjamin Franklin (Emblematical Representations, Circa 1774)

I think Franklin’s quote speaks for itself about this matter. As for the United States, it is apparent that our government is quickly abandoning the free-market ideology and embracing a more fascist, socialist system run by an oligarchy. God help us.