I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.

I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.

Even a cursory glance at history should convince one that individual crimes committed for selfish motives play a quite insignificant read more

Even a cursory glance at history should convince one that individual crimes committed for selfish motives play a quite insignificant part in the human tragedy, compared to the numbers massacred in unselfish loyalty to one's tribe, nation, dynasty, church, or political ideology, ad majorem gloriam dei. The emphasis is on unselfish. Excepting a small minority of mercenary or sadistic disposition, wars are not fought for personal gain, but out of loyalty and devotion to king, country or cause. Homicide committed for personal reasons is a statistical rarity in all cultures, including our own. Homicide for unselfish reasons, at the risk of one's own life, is the dominant phenomenon of history.

We're all capable of mistakes, but I do not care to enlighten you on the mistakes we may or may read more

We're all capable of mistakes, but I do not care to enlighten you on the mistakes we may or may not have made.

A right without an attendant responsibility is as unreal as a sheet of paper which has only one side.

A right without an attendant responsibility is as unreal as a sheet of paper which has only one side.

It is maintained that a society is free only when dissenting minorities have room to throw their weight around. As read more

It is maintained that a society is free only when dissenting minorities have room to throw their weight around. As a matter of fact, a dissenting minority feels free only when it can impose its will on the majority: what it abominates most is the dissent of the majority.

Only enemies speak the truth. Friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty.

Only enemies speak the truth. Friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty.

'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, read more

'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.

To complain of lack of leadership is, in the field of political affairs, the characteristic attitude of all harbingers of read more

To complain of lack of leadership is, in the field of political affairs, the characteristic attitude of all harbingers of dictatorship.

Expecting a carjacker or rapist or drug pusher to care that his possession or use of a gun is unlawful read more

Expecting a carjacker or rapist or drug pusher to care that his possession or use of a gun is unlawful is like expecting a terrorist to care that his car bomb is taking up two parking spaces. - "Usenet posting in talk.politics.guns".