THOMAS JEFFERSON

april 13, 1743 - july 4, 1826

Third President of the U.S. (1801-1809)

He was not a perfect man. He could not always live up to his perfect words. Yet, nonetheless, he penned the elegant foundation of our organic law—The Declaration of Independence. Inspired by the likes of Thomas Paine and recruited by the needs of the Revolution, he wrote an indictment against King George that should be contemplated when considering the misdeeds of our own George. The words below, written by Jefferson, may seem revolutionary. That's because they are, they belong to us. And we may make use of them again, if our cause is just.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

via Patti Smith