Happy 231st Birthday America!

I am grateful to be an American. May God bless and guide my country now and forever, and may we the people never forget the price of our independence.

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.

— And for the support of this Declaration,
with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence,
we mutually pledge to each other our Lives,
our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."
From the American Declaration of Independence,
July 4, 1776

"I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom I can see rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the means."

John Adams, on the passing of the Declaration of Independence