Thomas Jefferson on banking

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and the corporations that will grow up around (the banks) will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers had conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.

~ Thomas Jefferson