Richard Henry Lee

“That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.”

“To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them.”

“The first maxim of a man who loves liberty, should be never to grant to rulers an atom of power that is not most clearly and indispensably necessary for the safety and well being of society.”

“No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue, and by a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.”

“A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves... and include all men capable of bearing arms.”

“The friends of liberty may be assured that the scorpion of despotism will soon sting itself to death.”

“The human mind is to be driven from its attachment to truth only by the triumphant force of conviction.”