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.

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.

Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished read more

Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people in order to betray them.

The light may be fading on the 20th century, but the sun is still
rising on America.

The light may be fading on the 20th century, but the sun is still
rising on America.

I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people
who knocked these buildings down read more

I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people
who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.

My toast would be, may our country always be successful, but
whether successful or otherwise, always right.

My toast would be, may our country always be successful, but
whether successful or otherwise, always right.

Young man, there is America--which at this day serves for little
more than to amuse you with stories of read more

Young man, there is America--which at this day serves for little
more than to amuse you with stories of savage men and uncouth
manners; yet shall, before you taste of death, show itself equal
to the whole that commerce which now attracts the envy of the
world.

A people who are still, as it were, but in the gristle, and not
yet hardened into the bone read more

A people who are still, as it were, but in the gristle, and not
yet hardened into the bone of manhood.

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. . . .