"The spirit of 1776 is not dead...." - Quote by Thomas Jefferson
The spirit of 1776 is not dead. It had only been slumbering. The body of the American people is substantially republican.
More by Thomas Jefferson
“Of all the errors which can possibly be committed to the education of youth, that of sending them to Europe is the most fatal. I see [clearly] that no American should come to Europe under 30 years of age.”
“We need a revolution every 20 years just to keep government honest.”
“Though written constitutions may be violated in moments of passion or delusion, yet they furnish a text to which those who are watchful may again rally and recall the people; they fix too for the people the principles of their political creed.”
More on Patriotism
“A healthy nation is as unconscious of its nationality as a healthy man of his bones. But if you break a person's nationality it will think of nothing else but getting it set again.”
“Let me ask you, sir, when is the time for brave men to exert themselves in the cause of liberty and their country, if this is not?”
“The citizen who thinks he sees that the commonwealth's political clothes are worn out, and yet holds his peace and does not agitate for a new suit, is disloyal, he is a traitor. That he may be the only one who thinks he sees this decay, does not excuse him: it is his duty to agitate anyway, and it is the duty of others to vote him down if they do not see the matter as he does.”
More on Republic
“In a republic this rule ought to be observed: that the majority should not have the predominant power.”
“Kings are for nations in their swaddling-clothes: France has attained her majority.”
“The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.”