Still forgotten

“All men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent natural Rights… among which are the Enjoyment of Life and Liberty, with the Means of acquiring and possessing Property, and pursuing and obtaining Happiness and Safety.” – the Virginia Declaration of Rights, 1776.

George Mason, the forgotten founder, who wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights which inspired the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, sits in his garden with a book by Cicero.

By the way, it was recognized even in ancient times that every human being has a right to natural satisfaction of life. The Greek sophist Antiphon (470 – 411 BC) believed that we are all equal by nature, and all have the ability to fulfill the natural satisfactions which are necessary. Zhuang Zi (369 – 286 BC), an important Taoist after Lao Tzu, believed that although things are different in their nature, and their natural ability is also not the same, what they share in common is that they are all equally happy when they have a full and free exercise of their natural ability.