The Essential Wisdom of the Founding Fathers

Thoughts on patriotism, peace, politics, and more from Washington, Hamilton, Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, and others—in their own words.

America’s Founding Fathers were men of words as well as deeds. Keenly intelligent and deeply committed to their ideals and to the cause for American independence, they left us a legacy of addresses and documents whose profound ideas still speak with authority. The Essential Wisdom of the Founding Fathers collects more than three hundred inspiring and instructive quotations from the men who were present at our nation’s inception. Drawn from their speeches, essays, proclamations, and declarations, the thematically arranged contents reflect the subjects of greatest import to the founders as they forged our new republic. In these selections:George Washington confides that the best way to ensure peace is to be well prepared to meet one’s enemyAlexander Hamilton warns of the dangers of limiting freedom of the pressJohn Adams reasons that true liberty cannot endure without the people’s knowledge of the character and conduct of their rulers, and more

This volume includes extracts from texts published in the founders’ lifetimes in which they exchange ideas on the meaning of justice, the evils of slavery, the role of the patriot, and the pitfalls of politics. Here, too, are candid excerpts from correspondence in which they express fears about the perilous times they face, and their hopes for a brighter future.