From Federalist No. 3, also by John Jay:

“Among the many objects to which a wise and free people find it necessary to direct their attention, that of providing for their safety seems to be the first” (Jay’s emphasis).

As obvious as this is, sometimes the obvious needs to be stated. I’d like to have this sentence tattooed on the forehead of the feckless new junior senator from Virginia, who last night called for “a formula that will in short order allow our combat forces to leave Iraq,” without any evident consciousness of what it would mean for the safety of the American people. (For explanation of this recurring feature, see here.)