The Essential Wisdom Of The Founding Fathers

Thoughts on patriotism, peace, politics, and more from Washington, Hamilton, Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, and others—in their own words. America’s Founding Fathers were men of words as well as deeds. Keenly intelligent and deeply committed to their ideals and to the cause for American independence, they left us a legacy of addresses and documents whose profound ideas still speak with authority. The Essential Wisdom of the Founding Fathers collects more than three hundred inspiring and instructive quotations from the men who were present at our nation’s inception. Drawn from their speeches, essays, proclamations, and declarations, the thematically arranged contents reflect the subjects of greatest import to the founders as they forged our new republic. In these selections: George Washington confides that the best way to ensure peace is to be well prepared to meet one’s enemy Alexander Hamilton warns of the dangers of limiting freedom of the press John Adams reasons that true liberty cannot endure without the people’s knowledge of the character and conduct of their rulers, and more This volume includes extracts from texts published in the founders’ lifetimes in which they exchange ideas on the meaning of justice, the evils of slavery, the role of the patriot, and the pitfalls of politics. Here, too, are candid excerpts from correspondence in which they express fears about the perilous times they face, and their hopes for a brighter future.

In Their Own Words: The Wisdom and Passion of Our Founding Fathers. A Book to Share with Your Children and Grandchildren. The words of the founding fathers are full of both wisdom and passion. From one generation of American's to the next, these words serve as an enduring reminder of the principles and values upon which the United States has been founded. In Their Own Words provides patriots of all ages the opportunity to share in the wisdom of the founders by exploring the words of some of the most celebrated founding fathers (George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Samuel Adams, Thomas Paine). Questions and commentary are also provided to prompt discussion about the inspired ideals that have paved the road for a nation founded on the blessings of liberty.

"George Washington laughing? That the venerable Father of Our Country, the austere and unfailingly honest leader of historical record and legend, had a penchant for tall tales and crafty quips seems unthinkable to most Americans, even today. In The Wit & Wisdom of the Founding Fathers, historian and scholar Paul Zall shatters the sober image of American icons George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin to reveal - and celebrate - their natural bent for incisive, spirited humor." "With ample quotes from personal correspondence and private memoirs, Zall peers behind the staid and serious facade of our first three presidents and demonstrates how each strove to suppress his sense of mirth to maintain a dignified public reputation. By lifting the curtain on our Founding Fathers as they engage in practical jokes and regale friends with humorous stories, Zall opens a window on their personalities otherwise obscured by our preconceptions of them as larger-than-life historical figures. While Franklin's humor and wisdom is legendary thanks to his authorship of Poor Richard's Almanac, readers will be surprised to learn that Washington had a penchant for biting sarcasm; that Adams engaged in direct, colloquial, even vulgar, humor; and that Jefferson, our most cerebral president, enjoyed laughing at the absurdity of his own situation as leader of the nation."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Contains alphabetically arranged entries that provide information on the Founding Fathers, their actions, and their intentions in writing the U.S. Constitution.

"The Myths of Our Founding Fathers and Their Constitution" helps us to understand the diversity of thought, the balancing of interests, and the fragility of the 118 Revolutionary and Constitutional Founders of this Republic. It enables us to reflect on the real intentions and human struggles of those Founders, and how they overcame their divisions to create a new whole: the United States of America. From this better understanding, we can more properly draw guidance from them in surmounting our own modern-day divisions.

Since wisdom is the ultimate human virtue, its application is important for humans and civilization. Cognitive Informatics and Wisdom Development: Interdisciplinary Approaches argues that wise civilization cannot function without wise people and vice versa, that wise people cannot function without positive conditions for the development of wise civilization. Using the cognitive informatics approach as a basis for the investigation of wisdom, this book offers solutions on how to study and evaluate the state of wisdom in 21st century society and the requirements for wise civilization and its monitoring systems.