When  in the course of human events  it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another  and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them  a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident  that all men are created equal  that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights  that among these are life  liberty  and the pursuit of happiness  that to secure these rights  governments are instituted among men  deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed  that whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends  it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it  and to institute new government  laying its foundation on such principles  and organizing its powers in such form  as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.
Thomas Jefferson
government, rule