"When tyrants ask you to yield one jot of your liberty, and you consent thereto,
it is the first link forged in the chain that will eventually hold you in bondage."
“It has to look democratic, but we must have everything in [our] hand.”
Walter Ulbricht, East German leader, on the transition to socialism there, 1945
“‘All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness’. This immortal statement was made in the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America in 1776. In a broader sense, this means ‘All the peoples on the Earth are equal from birth, all the peoples have a right to live, to be happy and to be free’.”
Ho Chi Minh, September 1945
Something to try to teach our "friends" on the left who believe they're striving for freedom and liberty. Socialists and communists often speak highly of freedom in order to be swept into power...at which point freedom is the first thing thrown out the window in favor of obedience and order.
“Did you really think we want those laws observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We want them to be broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against... We're after power and we mean it... There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Reardon, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with.”