The phrase means that the truths listed in the Declaration of Independence are considered to be obvious or inherently true, without the need for proof or justification. These truths are held to be self-evident by the author and the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and are presented as a basis for the Declaration's arguments and conclusions.
The truths that are listed as self-evident in the Declaration of Independence are as follows:
* That all men are created equal
* That all men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights
* That among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
These truths are considered to be fundamental and foundational principles of the United States government and political philosophy, and are seen as essential to the concept of human rights and individual freedoms.