Gentle Reminders

As much as any one can make use of to any advantage of life before it spoils, so much he may by his labor fix a property in: whatever is beyond this, is more than his share, and belongs to others. Nothing was made by God for man to spoil or destroy.

John Locke

God forbid we should ever be 20 years without such a rebellion...What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

Thomas Jefferson

There are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gardual and silent encroachment of those in power than by violent and sudden insurpation.

James Madison

In Germany they first came for the Communists
and I didn't speak because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for ther Jews, and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the
trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I
wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me.
And by that time no one was left to speak up.

Martin Niemoller