The time we enjoy wasting is usually a good indicator of our real values… The best things in life feel read more

The time we enjoy wasting is usually a good indicator of our real values… The best things in life feel like we feel when we waste our time!

Americanism means the virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihood—the virtues that made America. The things that will read more

Americanism means the virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihood—the virtues that made America. The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life.

Every man, at the bottom of his heart, wants to do right. But only he can do right who knows read more

Every man, at the bottom of his heart, wants to do right. But only he can do right who knows right; only he knows right who thinks right; only he thinks right who believes right.

Values are not just words, values are what we live by. They're about the causes that we champion and the read more

Values are not just words, values are what we live by. They're about the causes that we champion and the people we fight for.

Aldo Leopold, the early 20th century's Henry David Thoreau, said that we should think like a mountain, with a sense read more

Aldo Leopold, the early 20th century's Henry David Thoreau, said that we should think like a mountain, with a sense of permanence and a long view. At the beginning of the 21st century, we are at a peak of human power, wealth and information... We need to look back at our wonderful natural and human heritage, and cherish and protect the abundant values to be found there. We need to look out to the sides and see other parts of the world that need our help and can provide good ideas to go forward... We need to look ahead to be certain that our actions of today will make the world a better and richer and more varied place for our grandchildren and their grandchildren.

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one
people to dissolve the political bands which read more

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one
people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them
with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the
separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of
Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of
mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel
them to the separation.
We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the
Pursuit of Happiness--That to secure these Rights, Governments
are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the
the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of
Government becomes destructive to these Ends, it is the Right of
the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new
Government, laying its foundation on such Principles and
and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem
most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. . . .

The breaking waves dashed high
On a stern and rock-bound coast;
And the woods against a stormy read more

The breaking waves dashed high
On a stern and rock-bound coast;
And the woods against a stormy sky,
Their giant branches toss'd.

The North! the South! the West! the East!
No one the most and none the least,
But read more

The North! the South! the West! the East!
No one the most and none the least,
But each with its own heart and mind,
Each of its own distinctive kind,
Yet each a part and none the whole,
But all together form one soul;
That soul Our Country at its best,
No North, no South, no East, no West,
No yours, no mine, but always Ours,
Merged in one Power our lesser powers,
For no one's favor, great or small,
But all for Each and each for All.

"The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism.... read more

"The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism.... It should be the highest ambition of every American to extend his views beyond himself, and to bear in mind that his conduct will not only affect himself, his country, and his immediate posterity; but that its influence may be co-extensive with the world, and stamp political happiness or misery on ages yet unborn." --George Washington