The sheep are happier of themselves, than under the care of wolves.
Interpretation
People are often better off relying on themselves than on those who may harm them.
This quote suggests that individuals find greater happiness and contentment when they are self-reliant and in control of their own lives, rather than being dependent on others who may have harmful intentions. It reflects the idea that freedom and independence bring more joy than submission to potentially dangerous guardianship.
In practice
In a discussion about parenting styles, you can use this quote to emphasize the importance of fostering independence in children.
The firmness with which the (American) people have withstood the... abuses of the press, the discernment they have manifested between truth and falsehood, show that they may safely be trusted to hear everything true and false and to form a correct judgment between them.
I, place economy among the first & most important republican virtues, & public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared
βWe must make our choice between economy and liberty or confusion and servitude...If we run into such debts, we must be taxed in our meat and drink, in our necessities and comforts, in our labor and in our amusements...if we can prevent the government from wasting the labor of the people, under the pretense of caring for them, they will be happy.
Very many and very meritorious were the worthy patriots who assisted in bringing back our government to its republican tack. To preserve it in that, will require unremitting vigilance.
A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society.
Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.
Without seeking, truth cannot be known at all. It can neither be declared from pulpits, nor set down in articles, nor in any wise prepared and sold in packages ready for use. Truth must be ground for every man by itself out of it such, with such help as he can get, indeed, but not without stern labor of his own.
A house cannot be made habitable in a day; and, after all, how few days go to make up a century.
A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it.
The most difficult times for many of us are the ones we give ourselves.
Genius abhors consensus because when consensus is reached, thinking stops. Stop nodding your head.
If all you have to offer is a look that is supposed to be appealing, the you are going to be paid attention to about a tenth as long as you would be if when you speak you are interesting.
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