Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

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"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is one of the most famous phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence. These three aspects are listed among of the "inalienable rights" of man. However, today, some still question whether these rights are truly "inalienable."

[edit] Phrasing

The phrase is based on the writings of John Locke, who expressed a similar concept of "life, liberty, and estate (or property)". While Locke said that "no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions", Adam Smith coined the phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of property". The expression "pursuit of happiness" was coined by Dr. Samuel Johnson in his 1759 novel Rasselas.

Framers of the constitution were afraid that slaves would be considered "property." Northern colonies who were against slavery fought to keep that word out of the constitution. "Pursuit of happiness" was chosen as a comprimise between slave-holders and abolitionists.

This tripartite motto is comparable to “liberté, égalité, fraternité” (liberty, equality, fraternity) in France or “peace, order and good government” in Canada.

The phrase can also be found in Chapter III, Article 13 of the 1947 Constitution of Japan.

An alternative phrase "life, liberty and property", is found in the Declaration of Colonial Rights, a resolution of the First Continental Congress.