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Jeff Cooper Quotes

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Famous Jeff Cooper Quotes

“The conclusions seem inescapable that in certain circles a tendency has arisen to fear people who fear government. Government, as the Father of Our Country put it so well, is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. People who understand history, especially the history of government, do well to fear it. For a people to express openly their fear of those of us who are afraid of tyranny is alarming. Fear of the state is in no sense subversive. It is, to the contrary, the healthiest political philosophy for a free people.”

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Author:Jeff Cooper
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“Personal weapons are what raised mankind out of the mud, and the rifle is the queen of personal weapons. The possession of a good rifle, as well as the skill to use it well, truly makes a man the monarch of all he surveys. It realizes the ancient dream of the Jovian thunderbolt, and as such it is the embodiment of personal power. For this reason it exercises a curious influence over the minds of most men, and in its best examples it constitutes an object of affection unmatched by any other inanimate object.”

MenMindWellsReasonUseDreamRealizingInfluenceMankindExampleObjectsExerciseSkillsWeaponsGunRaisedAncientAffectionPossessionCuriousQueensMudSurveysRiflesEmbodimentMonarchsPersonal PowerInanimate ObjectsThunderbolts
Book:Art of the Rifle: Special Colour Edition
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“All the people constitute the militia - according to the Founding Fathers. Therefore every able-bodied man has a duty under the Constitution to become part of the "well-regulated" militia, specifically to understand and perform well with the individual weapon currently issued to the regular establishment. . . . Thus one who has not qualified himself with the M-16 may not be considered to be a responsible citizen.”

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Author:Jeff Cooper
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“Observe your cat. It is difficult to surprise him. Why? Naturally his superior hearing is part of the answer, but not all of it. He moves well, using his senses fully. He is not preoccupied with irrelevancies. He's not thinking about his job or his image or his income tax. He is putting first things first, principally his physical security. Do likewise.”

ThinkingFirstsWellsJobsMovingDifficultAnswersSecurityTaxesCatSurpriseHearingSensesIncomeSuperiorsSelf DefenseIncome TaxFirst Things First
Book:Principles of Personal Defense: Revised Edition
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