“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
Both
of Jefferson’s famous quotes about Shays’ Rebellion are still
frequently cited by people who are “mad as hell” about something the
government has done.
Today, relatively few people actually believe
that the sentiments Jefferson expressed should be interpreted and acted
out literally, through a violent revolution.
<span>Some anti-gun control protesters who carry signs referring to Jefferson’s “tree of liberty” quote apparently do.</span>
