There is no better time than on the Fourth of July to celebrate all that is great about the United States of America.

And as you soak up the sun and enjoy food, fireworks and a cold beverage with family and friends this weekend, remember to think about the meaning of the holiday.

Fourth of July isn’t just a day on the calendar, it is a day commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring our independence from Great Britain.

So it is essentially our country’s birthday. Happy birthday America!

To celebrate, we’ve pulled together some of our favorite quotes on freedom and independence.

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” — Thomas Paine

“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” — Elmer Davis

“In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

“For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail?” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

“We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.” —William Faulkner

“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.” — Abraham Lincoln

“Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation and freedom in all just pursuits” — Thomas Jefferson

“Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?” — Mahatma Gandhi

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.