It must never be forgotten...that the liberties of the people are not so safe under the gracious manner of government as by the limitation of power.

To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms.

A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves... and include all men capable of bearing arms.

The constitution ought to secure a genuine militia and guard against a select militia. ...All regulations tending to render this general militia useless and defenseless, by establishing select corps of militia, or distinct bodies of military men, not having permanent interests and attachments to the community ought to be avoided.

The first maxim of a man who loves liberty, should be never to grant to rulers an atom of power that is not most clearly and indispensably necessary for the safety and well being of society.

If Parliament may take from me one shilling in the pound, what security have I for the other nineteen?

To say that a bad government must be established for fear of anarchy is really saying that we should kill ourselves for fear of dying.