"We hold these truths to be sacred & undeniable; that all men are created equal &
independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent & inalienable, among which are the
preservation of life, & liberty, & the pursuit of
happiness; ..." --Thomas Jefferson
he
Committee of Five edited Jefferson's draft. Their version survived further edits by the whole Congress intact, and reads:6
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and
the pursuit of
Happiness. ——