“What country before ever existed a century & half without a rebellion? & what country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & 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 & tyrants. It is it’s natural manure.”
– Thomas Jefferson writing to William S. Smith, John Adams’ secretary, discussing Shays’ Rebellion in Massachusetts, November 13, 1787
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The original letter to William S. Smith can be found here:
http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/P/tj3/writings/brf/jefl64.htm
Always liked the part “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants” until Ed Harris ruined it in the Rock. The “natural manure” part was a nice touch I’ve never seen before.
Obama-Jefferson ’08
See you at a Tea Party?
Lovely to have found your site!
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