A bit of wisdom
“God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty…. And 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 remedy is to set them right as to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.”
- Thomas Jefferson, on Shays’ Rebellion in a letter to William S. Smith, November 13, 1787
Good quote. I am wondering how many people would be screaming “ANARCHIST” if they weren’t aware it came from Thomas Jefferson. Hopefully, in this country today, the “tree of liberty” can be refreshed though peaceful protest, perhaps civil disobedience if necessary and of course always by way of the ballot box. Hence, the recent election. John/Dad