Benjamin Rush Quotes

When Washington visited Portsmouth in 1789, he was not much impressed by the architecture of the little town that had stood by him so stoutly in the struggle for independence.

Without Virginia, as we must all acknowledge--without her Patrick Henry among the people, her Lees and Jefferson in the forum, and her Washington in the field--I will not say that the cause of American liberty and American independence must have been ultimately defeated--no, no, there was no ultimate defeat for that cause in the decrees of the Most High; but it must have been delayed, postponed, perplexed, and to many eyes and hearts rendered seemingly hopeless.

If not for John Adams leading a revolution against Great Britain...This would be the BAFTAs.

New Hampshire is one of the birthplaces of American freedom and independence - a place with a love and a passion for liberty.

How I longed to see these things; how I longed to see the Liberty Bell and walk on the streets where Thomas Jefferson, Tom Paine and Benjamin Franklin had walked.

Patrick Henry aligned himself against ratification. So did Richard Henry Lee.

When the American spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different: Liberty, sir, was the primary object.

In January 1776, Thomas Paine issued 'Common Sense,' advocating independence from Great Britain.

I would like to acquire a document autographed by John Witherspoon, who signed the Declaration of Independence and is one of my American heroes.

Let the grand errand into America never be forgotten.

Robert Treat Paine was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

The [American] Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people.

The United States is the only country with a known birthday. All the rest began, they know not when, and grew into power, they know not how. If there had been no Independence Day, England and America combined would not be so great as each actually is. There is no "Republican," no "Democrat," on the Fourth of July—all are Americans.

Without the pen of Paine, the sword of Washington would have been wielded in vain.

The taverns were the headquarters of the American Revolution.

In the beginning of the year 1776, the colonists were farmers, merchants, and mechanics; at its close, soldiers.

Not enough people really think about the founding of our country, how it all began and what its really about. They don't even teach it in schools any more.

Quite naturally, the men who led in stirring up the revolt against Great Britain and in keeping the fighting temper of the Revolutionists at the proper heat were the boldest and most radical thinkers - men like Samuel Adams, Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson.

You gotta be think'n Sam Adams, not drink'n Sam Adams

People don't even recognize who the Founding Fathers of the United States were. They were exceptional human beings - when you signed the Declaration of Independence, that was a death warrant they signed their name to. You have to have courage to put your name on a death warrant against the most powerful nation in the world at that time. And yet, we didn't honor who they really were. They were deists. They lived an enlightened belief system.

I hope every person who reads or hears this will take the time to go back and read the Declaration of Independence. Only by recapturing the spirit of independence can we ensure our government never resembles the one from which the American States declared their separation.

In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection," he stated. "Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. ... Do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?

The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity

The spirit of 1776 is not dead. It had only been slumbering. The body of the American people is substantially republican.