...assertion of human equality in the Declaration of Independence, he said : "They (the drafters) did not mean to assert the obvious untruth that all were then actually enjoying that equality or yet that they were about to confer it immediately upon them. In fact, they had no power to confer...

...pursuit of happiness."23 This did not mean that the Founders thereupon secured these rights for all men. "They meant simply to declare the right, so that the...follow as fast as circumstances should permit." They did this not for the sake of effecting a separation from Great Britain, for which "it was of no practical...

...are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.' This they said, and this they meant. They did not mean to assert the obvious untruth that all were then...of it might follow as fast as circumstances should permit.68 A very different point of view was taken by Jeremy Bentham for whom natural rights were,...

...and the pursuit of happiness' "—the Founders did not "confer" these elements as matters of fact. "They meant simply to declare the right, so that the...might follow as fast as circumstances should permit" (H, 406). Lincoln the ideologue never forgets the power of circumstance, and his language, at its best,...

...which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." This they said, and this meant. They did not mean to assert the obvious untruth, that all were...They meant simply to declare the right so that the ci-orcgment of it might follow as fast as circumstances should permit. They meant to set up a standard...

...which are life, libertv, and the pursuit of happiness." This they said, and this m^înt. They did not mean to assert the obvious untruth, that all were...equality, nor yet, that they were about to confer it iimediately upon them. In fact they had no power to confer such a boon. They meant simply to declare...

...they said, and this they meant. They did not mean to assert the obvious untruth, that all men were actually enjoying that equality, nor yet, that they...boon. They meant simply to declare the right, so that enforcement of it might follow as fast as circumstances should permit. They meant to set up a standard...

...meant. They did not mean to assert the obvious untruth, that all men were actually enjoying that 316 equality, nor yet, that they were about to confer...boon. They meant simply to declare the right, so that enforcement of it might follow as fast as circumstances should permit. They meant to set up a standard...

...are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This they said, and this they meant. They did not mean to assert the obvious untruth that all were then actually enjoying that equality, or yet that they were about to confer it immediately upon them. In fact they had no power to confer...

...happiness. This they said and this they meant. They did not mean to assert the obvious untruth that all men were then actually enjoying that equality, nor [yet]...to declare the right, so that the enforcement of it should follow as fast as circumstances would permit. They meant to set up a standard maxim for free...