Enlightened Citizens

Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom. John Adams, Defense of the Constitutions, 1787.
The best means of forming a manly, virtuous, and happy people will be found in the right education of youth. Without this foundation, every other means, in my opinion, must fail. George Washington, letter to George Chapman, December 15, 1784.
Laws for the liberal education of the youth, especially of the lower class of the people, are so extremely wise and useful, that, to a humane and generous mind, no expense for this purpose would be thought extravagant. John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776.
The good Education of Youth has been esteemed by wise Men in all Ages, as the surest Foundation of the Happiness both of private Families and of Common-wealths. Almost all Governments have therefore made it a principal Object of their Attention, to establish and endow with proper Revenues, such Seminaries of Learning, as might supply the succeeding Age with Men qualified to serve the Publick with Honour to themselves, and to their Country. Benjamin Franklin, Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania, 1749.
Enlighten the people, generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like spirits at the dawn of day. Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dupont de Nemours, April 24, 1816.
I had always hoped that the younger generation receiving their early impressions after the flame of liberty had been kindled in every breast...would have sympathized with oppression wherever found, and proved their love of liberty beyond their own share of it. Thomas Jefferson, letter to Edward Coles, August 25, 1814.
I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power. Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Charles Jarvis, September 28, 1820.
People generally have more feeling for canals and roads than education. However, I hope we can advance them with equal pace. Thomas Jefferson, letter to Joel Barlow, December 10, 1807.
Every man who loves peace, every man who loves his country, every man who loves liberty ought to have it ever before his eyes that he may cherish in his heart a due attachment to the Union of America and be able to set a due value on the means of preserving it. James Madison, Federalist No. 41, January 1788.
In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened. George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796.
Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the attachment. George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796.

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