You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.

~Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 - 2005~

In celebration of the 4th of July, here are some quotes related to the 4th of July and patriotism. I’ll start with my favorite:

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. ~Erma Bombeck

It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you. ~Dick Cheney

Liberty is the breath of life to nations. ~George Bernard Shaw

America is much more than a geographical fact. It is a political and moral fact - the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality. ~Adlai Stevenson

May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country! ~Daniel Webster

The United States is the only country with a known birthday. ~James G. Blaine

Many politicians are in the habit of laying it down as a self-evident proposition that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story who resolved not to go into the water till he had learned to swim. ~Thomas Macaulay

Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all!
By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.
~John Dickinson

We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it. ~William Faulkner

My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy! ~Thomas Jefferson

What is the essence of America? Finding and maintaining that perfect, delicate balance between freedom “to” and freedom “from.” ~Marilyn vos Savant, in Parade

How often we fail to realize our good fortune in living in a country where happiness is more than a lack of tragedy. ~Paul Sweeney

Freedom’s natal day is here.
Fire the guns and shout for freedom,
See the flag above unfurled!
Hail the stars and stripes forever,
Dearest flag in all the world.
~Florence A. Jones

Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty. ~Louis D. Brandeis

Quote source: Quote Garden

Is this not one of the lovliest quotes you’ve ever read?

“Which can say more than this rich praise, that you alone are you.”
~Wm. Shakespeare~

Who you choose as your mentor and “spiritual guide” matters.

The people you select as friends matter.

The religion/church you support with your presence, your service and your money matters.

The people your church honors matter.

Your words matter.
 ”But she is a typical white person . . . “ (Barack Obama, March 2008, speaking of his grandmother)

“For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country.” (Michele Obama, Feb. 2008)

Your actions matter.

Barack Obama is clearly not the person we want for President of the United States.  And for the people who are still cheering him on: there are few things worse than deliberate ignorance.

Just saw this quote and thought I’d share.  Ain’t it the truth?

“Be happy in your body . . . It’s the only one you’ve got, so you might as well like it.”

~Kiera Knightley~

I used to read every Lewis Grizzard book that was published.  I was so sad when he died.  I think I have a copy of each of his books.  Maybe it’s because he was born in Georgia that I identify so much with his humor and writing.  Only a couple years after he died, I was driving to visit family in Georgia and I went through his hometown.  I took a detour of less than two miles to drive by the cemetery where he is buried.  I wanted to pay my respects to someone who wrote so much that I enjoyed.  I came across this quote today, and it is as true as anything I can think of:

“It’s difficult to think aything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato.”

~Lewis Grizzard~

Amen.

From the first time I read Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl many years ago, it has been one of my favorite books.  Viktor Frankl spent three horrifying years at Auschwitz and other Nazi prisons during World War II.  When he gained his freedom, he learned that almost his entire family had been killed.  Man’s Search for Meaning is his description of his experiences and his beliefs about the higher meaning in life.  A really amazing book with so much to make you think.

There is so much basic human truth in it - in addition to being such an incredible story of survival and triumph over the worst that mankind can throw at a person.  Here’s a rather long quote, but one that I feel is important:

“The way in which a man accepts his fate and all the suffering it entails, the way in which he takes up his cross, gives him ample opportuntiy - even under the most difficult circumstances - to add a deeper meaning to his life.  It may remain brave, dignified and unselfish.  Or in the bitter fight for self-preservation he may forget his human dignity and become no more than an animal.  Here lies the chance for a man either to make use of or to forego the opportunities of attaining the moral values that a difficult situation may afford him.  And this decides whether he is worthy of his sufferings or not.”

That just reminds me of John McCain and how he handled being a POW during the Viet Nam war.

The greatest freedom and human fulfillment comes from engaging in a noble enterprise, larger than oneself.

~John McCain, in Faith of My Fathers~

“Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor.”
~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.~