Earliest Pro-Gun Quotes
This collection of important quotes are from authors pre-dating the framers of our great country. These works were no doubt read by many of our founding fathers and most likely helped shape our U.S. Constitution and form of Government.
A. Click here to see Founding Fathers' Quotes!
B. Click here for more Quotes SUPPORTING individual freedom and RKBA.
C. Click here for Pro-Gun Quotes in Works of FICTION.
D. Click here to Return to Main Quotes Page!The quotes are listed by category and then in chronological order. In addition a hyperlink to the quote in context is included whenever possible.
The Constitution & Firearms
Fighting Off Tyranny"Hence it is that all armed prophets have conquered, and the unarmed ones have been destroyed." The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli, written in 1505, published in 1515. Chapter. Whole Book.
"The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms; and as there cannot be good laws where the state is not well armed, it follows that where they are well armed they have good laws. I shall leave the laws out of the discussion and shall speak of the arms." The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli, written in 1505, published in 1515. Chapter. Whole Book.
"And experience has shown princes and republics, single-handed, making the greatest progress, and mercenaries doing nothing except damage; and it is more difficult to bring a republic, armed with its own arms, under the sway of one of its citizens than it is to bring one armed with foreign arms. Rome and Sparta stood for many ages armed and free. The Switzers are completely armed and quite free." The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli, written in 1505, published in 1515. Chapter. Whole Book.
"Thus it will be a double glory to him to have established a new principality, and adorned and strengthened it with good laws, good arms, good allies, and with a good example; so will it be a double disgrace to him who, born a prince, shall lose his state by want of wisdom." The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli, written in 1505, published in 1515. Chapter. Whole Book.
"With us there is great justice, because that war is just which is necessary, and arms are hallowed when there is no other hope but in them. The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli, written in 1505, published in 1515. Chapter. Whole Book.
On Individual Gun Ownership
The Militia
Government, Laws & Citizenship"For among other evils which being unarmed brings you, it causes you to be despised, and this is one of those ignominies against which a prince ought to guard himself, as is shown later on. Because there is nothing proportionate between the armed and the unarmed; and it is not reasonable that he who is armed should yield obedience willingly to him who is unarmed, or that the unarmed man should be secure among armed servants." The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli, written in 1505, published in 1515. Chapter. Whole Book.
"There never was a new prince who has disarmed his subjects; rather when he has found them disarmed he has always armed them, because, by arming them, those arms become yours, those men who were distrusted become faithful, and those who were faithful are kept so, and your subjects become your adherents...But when you disarm them, you at once offend them by showing that you distrust them, either for cowardice or for want of loyalty, and either of these opinions breeds hatred against you." The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli, written in 1505, published in 1515. Chapter. Whole Book.
Liberty & Freedom"Whereas by supposing they have given up themselves to the absolute arbitrary power and will of a legislator, they have disarmed themselves, and armed him to make a prey of them when he pleases..." John Locke, A Essay Concerning the true original, extent, and end of Civil Government (1690), Book 2.
Chapter. Whole Book.
Justice System
Character/Virtue"But it is necessary to know well how to disguise this characteristic [the prince (leader) as both beast and man in ruling], and to be a great pretender and dissembler; and men are so simple, and so subject to present necessities, that he who seeks to deceive will always find someone who will allow himself to be deceived." The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli, written in 1505, published in 1515. Chapter. Whole Book.
"Upon this a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved? It may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, is much safer to be feared than loved, when, of the two, either must be dispensed with. Because this is to be asserted in general of men, that they are ungrateful, fickle, false, cowardly, covetous, and as long as you succeed they are yours entirely; they will offer you their blood, property, life and children, as is said above, when the need is far distant; but when it approaches they turn against you. And that prince who, relying entirely on their promises, has neglected other precautions, is ruined; because friendships that are obtained by payments, and not by greatness or nobility of mind, may indeed be earned, but they are not secured, and in time of need cannot be relied upon; and men have less scruple in offending one who is beloved than one who is feared, for love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails." The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli, written in 1505, published in 1515. Chapter. Whole Book.