Get Incensed

I know I’m late for the Fourth of July with these quotes by Thomas Jefferson and Ayn Rand, but I’m going to suggest that we should keep them in mind all year ’round … not just for one day.

May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God. These are grounds of hope for others. For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them. -from the last letter written by Thomas Jefferson on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

Ayn Rand’s thoughts on the subject:

If it is ever proper for men to kneel, we should kneel when we read the Declaration of Independence.

Happy Independence Day today, and every day….

Fourth of July, Thomas Jefferson, Ayn Rand, Indepenence Day