In a recent letter, I offered some thoughts on the obligation of being an American and the connection with the greatness of our nation. I’d like to continue by sharing a few additional excerpts from a speech given by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at a Hillsdale College Commencement Ceremony.

Justice Thomas reminded his audience of Benjamin Franklin’s words at the end of the Constitutional Convention, describing our newly created government as, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

Thomas continued, saying, “At the risk of understating what is necessary to preserve liberty and our form of government, I think more and more it depends on good citizens discharging their daily duties and obligations…in addressing your own obligations and responsibilities in the right way, you actually do an important part on behalf of liberty and free government.

“My grandfather often reminded us that if we didn’t work, we didn’t eat, and that if we didn’t plant, we couldn’t harvest. There is always a relationship between responsibilities and benefits…If we are content to let others do the work of replenishing and defending liberty while we consume the benefits, we will someday run out of other people’s willingness to sacrifice.”

Justice Thomas provided sage advice to the graduates, advice which can also be applied to all of us: “All of you will be called upon to provide a firm foundation of citizenship by carrying out your obligations in the way so many preceding generations have done. You are to be the example to others that those generations have been to us. And in being that example, what you do will matter far more than what you say…If you don’t lead by example, who will?”

May we all heed this advice.