By Thomas Jefferson:, 3rd US president:

"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 their currency, first by inflation, then be deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [these banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on they continent their fathers conquered. The issue power [of currency] should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs."