notes on founding

Edmund Burke, Speech on Conciliation with the Colonies

22 Mar. 1775

I have been told by an eminent bookseller, that in no branch of his business, after tracts of popular devotion, were so many books as those on the law exported to the plantations. The colonists have now fallen into the way of printing them for their own use. I hear that they have sold nearly as many of Blackstone's Commentaries in America as in England.

http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch1s2.html

There can be no virtue without liberty because virtue is making the moral choice voluntarily.  yo do the bidding of another is not to be virtuous, no matter how good the actions are, it is mere obedience.

Crystal Ball by Dr. Dennis Waitley

Crystal ball, oh crystal ball,
will my empire rise and fall
like the Roman legions must,
ash to ash and dust to dust?

Is there something more to life
Than to build it for my wife
and to give our children more
than their parent had before?

I go to work, I earn my bread,
I watch TV and go to bed.
Sunrise, sunset - year to year,
before I know it, winter's here.

But it's no scrimmage or practice game,
there's no Martyr's Hall of Fame.
Time, the speedster, takes its toll,
and everyday is the Superbowl!

Losers live in classic style:
the never world of “Someday I'll.…”
They blame bad luck each time they lose,
then hide with sickness, drugs and booze.

Losing is habit and so is winning,
the way to change is by beginning
to live each day as if my last….
not in the future….not in the past.

To want it now, to dream it now,
To plan it now, to do it now!
To close my eyes and clearly see
that person I'd like most to be.

Crystal ball, oh crystal ball
Help me hear my inner call
I think I can, I know I can
become my greatest coach and fan,

And love myself and give away
all the love I can today.
I think I can, I know I can
Become a most uncommon man.