“A society that will trade a little liberty for a little order will lose both, and deserve neither.”

Shallow and not well thought out. The wild west was more than glad to circumscribe the liberties of the wild cowboys, hire sheriffs, and stifle the ubiquitous presence of fire arms. I love old Tom but sometimes he should have kept his mouth shut.

wow, thanks editor, I'd only seen the closely resembling Ben Franklin quotes before. Yet another founding truth and principle of liberty denied by the statist theocracy infesting this land.

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. (Benjamin Franklin; Reply to the Governor in the Pennsylvania Assembly, Nov 11, 1755) along with the many derivatives thereof as paraphrased by many. I'm not sure Jefferson paraphrasing Franklin could by any stretch of the imagination be called shallow or not well thought out, unless that is you are a Wafflerworlder that worships a socialist god.

Waffler just wants someone to always tell him what to do, how to do it, and when to do it.

Close to Ben Franklin's quote. More brilliant words from a brilliant leader.

Far too many in these States want both and deserve neither.

Now they want to add the internet to the long list of security to protect our Liberty - It's going to take a mighty shift before the American people get out of their stupor. Now they're also getting the sheeple ready to take away their social security - I'm afraid America is descending into the abyss from which it may never come out. Obama's State of the Union speech was pathetic and yet we continue to lie down and take this abuse of our intellect. The intelligentsia is on its move east, over the pond and far away before the gates come crushing down.

Stop and think of what has happened to us in the last 2 years and like someone said above after this "speech was pathetic and yet we continue to lie down and take this abuse of our intellect". I honestly am sick and tired of Obama and all of these people that continue to take us for idiots.

Waffler, if Jefferson were alive today he would think circles around your ass and get so deep you'd drown in your own stupidity. And if he would have kept his mouth shut, this nation wouldn't be here. It's not surprising that socialist control freaks like yourself would want to silence patriotic heroes like Thomas Jefferson. You watch too many wild west movies. Guns weren't outlawed. When the sheriff needed a posse to pursue an outlaw, he was aided by an army of ordinary citizens with arms in their hands ready to establish justice. They did not trade liberty for order, they traded a barbarous society in which there were no laws to defend their rights for an establishment of justice to ensure that everyone's rights were not infringed by another's sinful deeds. Guns played no part in the transaction.

Returning to that from which you have been freed makes oneself a slave to childish behavour, standing in fear. In God we trust. Who do you trust in Mr President. Fear is your tool. Hold fast that form of sound words in Romans thru Philemon, KJB. Thirteen books by the thirteenth apostle. Who by the way teaches the doctrines of liberty and freedom and the education to go with it. It is a good thing our founding fathers got the picture. Check out the nineth book KJB, N.T. nine 9 is the number of the COVENANT ! DEAL ! PROMISE !

Yes, both Jefferson and Franklin have similar quotes attributed to them. The proof of their brilliance is shown in all the negative consequences of central planning intended to fix all ills, everything from the disasterous federal reserve to entitlements.

some people don't want to be free. to hell with them.