In honor of the men and women who gave us this holiday, we’ve collected our ten favorite quotes by America’s founding fathers, and mothers. Some fought and died on the fields of battle while others were executed for defending liberty. Some represented the people at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia while others were the most brilliant of their time but resigned to influence and guide their husbands who gathered to create a country. No other nation on Earth can claim them. They are ours. They are distinctly American and these are their words.

“I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.” – Thomas Jefferson.

“Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated.” – Thomas Paine.

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin.

“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.” – Samuel Adams.

“Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!” – Patrick Henry.

“If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” – George Washington.

“Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it.” – John Adams.

“If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice, or representation.” – Abigail Adams.

“If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.” – James Madison.

“Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed, by the soft arts of luxury and effeminacy, into the pit digged for your destruction. Despise the glare of wealth. That people who pay greater respect to a wealthy villain than to an honest, upright man in poverty, almost deserve to be enslaved.” – John Hancock.

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