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Quotes by Founder:
Abigail Adams (2)
Adam Smith (2)
Alexander Hamilton (22)
Alexander McDougal (1)
Andrew Hamilton (1)
Archibald MacLaine (1)
Benjamin Church (1)
Benjamin Franklin (50)
Benjamin Rush (5)
Charles Carroll (1)
Charles Pinckney (2)
Daniel Webster (4)
Edmund Burke (1)
Edmund Randolph (1)
Elbridge Gerry (1)
Elias Boudinot, LL.D. (1)
Fisher Ames (4)
Francis Bacon (2)
George Berkeley (1)
George Mason (6)
George Washington (48)
Gouverneur Morris (4)
James Iredell (4)
James Madison (39)
James Monroe (9)
James Otis (2)
James Wilson (6)
Jean Jacques Rousseau (2)
John Adams (38)
John Barnard (1)
John Dickinson (2)
John Hancock (1)
John Howard Paine (1)
John Jay (5)
John Joseph Henry (1)
John Locke (1)
John Marshall (1)
John Paul Jones (1)
John Quincy Adams (7)
John Rutledge (1)
John Witherspoon (2)
Joseph Warren (1)
Michel Jean De Crevecoeur (3)
Nathan Hale (1)
Nathanael Greene (2)
Noah Webster (8)
Oliver Ellsworth (1)
Patrick Henry (7)
Rev. Jonathan Mayhew (1)
Richard Henry Lee (1)
Rufus King (1)
Samuel Adams (13)
Samuel Phillips Payson (1)
Samuel West (1)
Sarah Updike Goddard (1)
Silas Downer (1)
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Sir William Blackstone (1)
Thomas Hobbes (1)
Thomas Jefferson (80)
Thomas Paine (47)
Washington Irving (2)
William Blackstone (1)
William Bradford (1)
William Cullen Bryant (1)
William Goudy (1)
William Johnson (2)
William Penn (28)
William Pierce (1)
William Pitt (1)
Zephaniah Swift (1)
Your search for "
character of man
" returned 70 results from 26 Founders.
George Berkeley:
"He who says there is no such thing as an honest
man
, you may be sure is himself a knave."
source: Maxims Concerning Patriotism, c. early 1700's
honesty
,
corruption
,
lie
,
liar
,
character
of
man
Thomas Paine:
"There are two distinct species
of
popularity: the one excited by merit, the other by resentment."
source: Rights of Man, I 1791
character
,
integrity
,
differences
of
man
Thomas Jefferson:
"The foundation on which all [our constitutions] are built is the natural equality
of
man
, the denial
of
every preeminence but that annexed to legal office, and particularly the denial
of
a preeminence by birth."
source: Letter to George Washington, 1784.
equality
,
royality
,
common man
,
foundation
of
our nation
,
class
George Mason:
"From the nature
of
man
, we may be sure that those who have power in their hands will not give it up while they can retain it. On the contrary, we know that they will always, when they can, rather increase it."
source: Madison, p.232
power
,
corruption
,
maintaining power
,
tendency
of
man
,
dominance
,
hypocricy
Thomas Jefferson:
"Man was created for social intercourse, but social intercourse cannot be maintained without a sense
of
justice; then
man
must have been created with a sense
of
justice."
source: Ford, 10:32
judgement
of
man
,
intuition
of
man
,
creation
of
man
,
society justice
James Wilson:
"A State, I cheerfully admit, is the noblest work
of
Man: But Man, himself, free and honest, is, I speak as to this world, the noblest work
of
God."
source: Chisholm v. Georgia, February 18, 1793.
God
,
man
,
miracle
,
noble
George Washington:
"Good moral
character
is the first essential in a
man
."
source: To Benjamin Harrison, March 9, 1790.
character
,
morals
,
integrity
Benjamin Franklin:
"Marriage is the proper remedy. It is the most natural state
of
man
, and therefore the state in which you are most likely to find solid happiness. Your reasons against entering into it at present appear to me not well founded. The circumstantial advantages you have in view by postponing it are not only uncertain, but they are small in comparison with that
of
the thing itself, the being married and settled. It is the
man
and woman united that make the complete human being. Separate, she wants his force
of
body and strength
of
reason; he, her softness, sensibility, and acute discernment. Together they are more likely to succeed in the world. A single
man
has not nearly the value he would have in that state
of
union. He is an incomplete animal. He resembles the odd half
of
a pair
of
scissors. If you get a prudent, healthy wife, your industry in your profession, with her good economy, will be a fortune sufficient. "
source: Koch, The American Enlightenment, p. 70. (In a letter to a young friend to dissuade the man from taking a mistress.)
importance
of
marriage
,
companionship
,
gay marriage
,
adultery
,
man and woman
Thomas Paine:
"Whenever politics are applied to debauch mankind from their integrity, and dissolve the virtue
of
human nature, they become detestable; and to be a statesman on this plan, is to be a commissioned villain. He who aims at it, leaves a vacancy in his
character
, which may be filled up with the worst
of
epithets."
source: To the Abbe Raynal, 1782
politics
,
debauch
,
integrity
,
virtue
,
human nature
,
destestable
,
statesman
,
villian
,
character
George Washington:
"I hope that I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain ... the
character
of
an "Honest Man."
source: Letter to Alexander Hamilton, August 28, 1788.
honesty
,
character
Fisher Ames:
"Men are often false to their country and their honor, false to duty and even to their interest, but multitudes
of
men are never long false or deaf to their passions."
source: Speech given in Boston, February 8, 1800
passion
,
honor
,
duty
,
character
Benjamin Rush:
"Patriotism is as much a virtue as justice, and is as necessary for the support
of
societies as natural affection is for the support
of
families. The Amor Patriae is both a moral and a religious duty. It comprehends not only the love
of
our neighbors but
of
millions
of
our fellow creatures, not only
of
the present but
of
future generations. This virtue we find constitutes a part
of
the first characters
of
history."
source: Untitled essay, 1773.
patriotism
,
virtue
,
justice
,
love
of
our fellow man
,
duty
Alexander Hamilton:
"Men always love power."
source: Constitutional Convention, June 18, 1787.
power
,
love
,
natural man
Samuel Adams:
"[N]either the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness
of
a people whose manners are universally corrupt."
source: Essay in "The Public Advertiser", 1749
corruption
,
tendency
of
man
,
security
,
justice
,
requirement
of
free people
George Washington:
"It is infinitely better to have a few good men than many indifferent ones."
source: To James McHenry August 10, 1798
commitment
,
honor
,
honesty
,
dignity
,
character
George Washington:
"I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy."
source: Farewell Address, September 17, 1796.
honesty
,
character
,
public
Benjamin Franklin:
"Sir, there are two passions which have a powerful influence in the affairs
of
men. These are ambition and avarice; the love
of
power and the love
of
money. Separately, each
of
these has great force in prompting men to action; but when united in view
of
the same object, they have in many minds the most violent effects. Place before the eyes
of
such men a post
of
honor, that shall at the same time be a place
of
profit, and they will move heaven and earth to obtain it. The vast number
of
such places it is that renders the British government so tempestuous. The struggles for them are the true source
of
all those factions which are perpetually dividing the nation, distracting its councils, hurrying it sometimes into fruitless and mischievous wars, and often compelling a submission to dishonorable terms
of
peace."
source: Ibid., 9:591
war
,
motive
,
corruption
,
tendency
of
man
,
oppression
Samuel Adams:
"The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters
of
public men."
source: To James Warren, 1775.
character
,
representatives
,
living in the public eye
Samuel Adams:
"Nothing is more essential to the establishment
of
manners in a State than that all persons employed in places
of
power and trust must be men
of
unexceptionable characters."
source: To James Warren, 1775
character
,
manners
,
representatives
,
power
,
trustworthiness
George Washington:
"The views
of
men can only be known, or guessed at, by their words or actions."
source: To Patrick Henry, January 15, 1799..
movites
,
intentions
,
character
,
point
of
view
,
actions speak louder than words
Daniel Webster:
"Whatever makes men good Christians, makes them good citizens."
source: Speech at Plymouth, December 22, 1820.
faith
,
religion
,
character
,
morals
,
christianity
Abigail Adams:
"What is it that affectionate parents require
of
their Children for all their care, anxiety, and toil on their accounts? Only that they would be wise, virtuous, Benevolent and kind."
source: To John Quincy Adams, November 20, 1783.
parenting
,
children
,
character
,
benevolence
Thomas Jefferson:
"Adore God. Reverence and cherish your parents. Love your neighbor as yourself, and your country more than yourself. Be just. Be true. Murmur not at the ways
of
Providence."
source: To Thomas Jefferson Smith, February 21, 1825.
character
,
morals
,
honor parents
,
brotherly love
Nathanael Greene:
"If you would know any
man
's affection towards you, consult his behavior; that is the best evidence
of
a virtuous mind. Though a person's professions be ever so voluminous, and his zeal ever so noisy, yet he is not entitled to our esteem, but only civility; for profession is but the shadow
of
friendship, and saying is not proving. If a person would be considered in the
character
of
a friend, let it appear by generous and friendly actions; for that is the only testimony upon which we may safely ground our esteem. If a
man
professes friendship one day and proves himself an enemy the next, why should I give credit to one who so effectually contradicts himself?"
source: To Samuel Ward, Jr., 1772.
friendship
,
friends
,
companionship
,
loyality
,
trustworthiness
Thomas Paine:
"Rights are not gifts from one
man
to another, nor from one class
of
men to another; for who is he who could be the first giver, or by what principle, or on what authority could he possess the right
of
giving?"
source: Dissertation on First Principles of Government, 1795
Rights
,
Thomas Jefferson:
"That to compel a
man
to furnish contributions
of
money for the propagation
of
opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical;"
source: The Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom, 1779; Full document can be found at: http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/sacred/vaact_draft_1779.html
Religious Freedom
,
Religion
,
Freedom
of
Conscience
,
forced charity
John Adams:
"Democracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy; such an anarchy that every
man
will do what is right in his own eyes and no
man
's life or property or reputation or liberty will be secure, and every one
of
these will soon mould itself into a system
of
subordination
of
all the moral virtues and intellectual abilities, all the powers
of
wealth, beauty, wit, and science, to the wanton pleasures, the capricious will, and the execrable [abominable] cruelty
of
one or a very few."
source: The Papers of John Adams, Robert J. Taylor, editor (Cambridge: Belknap Press, 1977), Vol. I, p. 83, from "An Essay on Man's Lust for Power, with the Author's Comment in 1807," written on August 29, 1763
Democracy
,
Bad Government
,
anarchy
Rufus King:
"The . . . law established by the Creator . . . extends over the whole globe, is everywhere and at all times binding upon mankind. . . . [This] is the law
of
God by which he makes his way known to
man
and is paramount to all human control."
source: The Life and Correspondence of Rufus King, Charles R. King, editor (New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1900), Vol. VI, p. 276, to C. Gore on February 17, 1820.
Natural Law
,
Divine Law
,
Human Law
,
Law
of
God
Gouverneur Morris:
"Religion is the only solid basis
of
good morals; therefore education should teach the precepts
of
religion and the duties
of
man
toward God."
source: The Life of Governeur Morris", Jared Sparks, (Boston: Gray and Bowen, 1832), Vol. III, p. 483, from his "Notes on the Form of a Constitution for France"
Religion
,
Morals
,
education
Gouverneur Morris:
"The reflection and experience
of
many years have led me to consider the holy writings not only as the most authentic and instructive in themselves, but as the clue to all other history. They tell us what
man
is, and they alone tell us why he is what he is: a contradictory creature that seeing and approving
of
what is good, pursues and performs what is evil. All
of
private and public life is there displayed. ... From the same pure fountain
of
wisdom we learn that vice destroys freedom; that arbitrary power is founded on public immorality."
source: Collections of the New York historical Society for the Year 1821", (New York: E. Bliss and E. White, 1821), p. 30, from "An Inaugural Discourse Delivered Before the New York Historical Society byt the Honorable Gouverneur Morris", September 4, 1816
Public morality
,
morality
,
Public Virtue
,
Separation
of
Church and State
John Adams:
"Democracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy; such an anarchy that every
man
will do what is right in his own eyes and no man’s life or property or reputation or liberty will be secure, and every one
of
these will soon mould itself into a system
of
subordination
of
all the moral virtues and intellectual abilities, all the powers
of
wealth, beauty, wit, and science, to the wanton pleasures, the capricious will, and the execrable [abominable] cruelty
of
one or a very few."
source: An Essay on Man’s Lust for Power, 1763
Democracy
,
Bad Government
,
anarchy
Thomas Paine:
"We repose an unwise confidence in any government, or in any men, when we invest them officially with too much, or an unnecessary quantity
of
, discretionary power; for though we might clearly confide in almost any
man
of
the present age, yet we ought ever to remember that virtue is not hereditary either in the office or in the persons."
source: "A Serious Address to the People of Pennsylvania" 1778.
power
,
government
,
corruption
,
virtue
Abigail Adams:
"I am more and more convinced that
man
is a dangerous creature and that power, whether vested in many or a few, is ever grasping, and like the grave cries, "Give, Give."
source: Letter to John Adams, November 27, 1775.
power
,
authority
,
freedom
,
corruption
,
control
John Barnard:
"For one person alone to have the Government
of
a people in his hands, would be too great a Temptation. It tends to excite and draw forth the Pride
of
man
, to make him insufferably haughty; it gives him too much liberty to exert his corruptions and it encourages him to become a Tyrant and an oppressor, to dispense with Laws and break the most solemn oaths."
source: The Presence of Great God in the Assembly of Political Rulers, 1746.
power
,
tyranny
,
oppression
,
liberty
,
freedom
,
balance
of
powers
Thomas Paine:
"Party knows no impulse but spirit, no prize but victory. It is blind to truth, and hardened against conviction. It seeks to justify error by perseverance, and denies to its own mind the operations
of
its own judgment. A
man
under the tyranny
of
party spirit is the greatest slave upon earth, for none but himself can deprive him
of
the freedom
of
thought."
source: "To the Opposers of the Bank," 1787.
political parties
,
truth
,
judgement
,
freedom
of
thought
James Monroe:
"Great calamities make appeals to the benevolence
of
mankind, which ought not to be resisted. Good offices in such emergencies exalt the
character
of
the party rendering them. By exciting grateful feelings, they soften the intercourse between nations, and tend to prevent war."
source: Message to Congress, May 4, 1822.
war
,
peace
,
calamities
,
natural disaster
,
charity
,
benevolence
Jean Jacques Rousseau:
"Where is the
man
who owes nothing to the land in which he lives? Whatever that land may be, he owes to it the most precious thing possessed by
man
, the morality
of
his actions and the love
of
virtue."
source: Emile; or, On Education, 1762.
patriotism
,
patriot
,
duty
,
virtue
,
commitment
,
morality
Thomas Paine:
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer solider and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the services
of
their country, but he that stands it NOW deserves the love and thanks
of
man
and woman."
source: The Crisis, 1776.
patriotism
,
dedication to God and Country
,
patriots
Thomas Jefferson:
"No
man
has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights
of
another, and this is all from which the laws ought to restrict him; every
man
is under the natural duty
of
contributing to the necessities
of
society, and this is all the laws should enforce on him and no
man
having a natural right to be the judge between himself and another, it is his natural duty to submit to the umpirage
of
an impartial third."
source: Letter to F. W. Gilmor, 1816.
natural law
,
rights
,
freedoms
,
society
John Dickinson:
"The all wise Creator
of
man
imprest certain laws on his nature. A desire
of
happiness, and
of
society, are two
of
those laws. They were not intended to destroy, but to support each other. Man has therefore a right to promote the best union
of
both, in order to enjoy both in the highest degree. Thus, while this right is properly exercised, desires, that seem selfish, by a happy combination, produce the welfare
of
others."
source: Political Writings, 1774.
happiness
,
natural law
,
balance in the government
,
welfare
Thomas Paine:
"Of more worth is one honest
man
to society, and in the eyes
of
God, than all the ruffians that ever lived."
source: Common Sense, 1776.
honesty
,
society
,
human nature
,
individual worth
Thomas Paine:
"A too great inattention to past occurrences retards and bewilders our judgment in every thing; while, on the contrary, by comparing what is past with what is present, we frequently hit on the true
character
of
both, and become wise with very little trouble. It is a kind
of
countermarch, by which we get into the rear
of
time, and mark the movements and meanings
of
things as we make our return."
source: The Crisis, 1777.
history
,
education
,
wisdom
,
awareness
James Madison:
"This belief in a God All Powerful wise and good, is so essential to the moral order
of
the world and to the happiness
of
man
, that arguments which enforce it cannot be drawn from too many sources nor adapted with too much solicitude to the different characters and capacities to be impressed with it. ... This finiteness
of
the Human understanding betrays itself on all subjects, but more especially when it contemplates such as involve infinity. What may safely be said seems to be, that the infinity
of
time and space forces itself on our conception, a limitation
of
either being inconceivable: that the mind prefers at once the idea
of
a self existing cause to that
of
an infinite series
of
cause and effect, which arguments, instead
of
avoiding the difficulty: and that it finds more facility in assenting to the self existence
of
an invisible cause possessing infinite power, wisdom and goodness, than to the self existence
of
the universe, visibly destitute
of
those attributes, and which may be the effect
of
them."
source: To Frederick Beasley, November 29, 1825.
God
,
providence
,
wisdom
,
eternity
,
infinity
,
man's mere existence
William Penn:
"[A]s it is some men's duty to plow, some to sow, some to water, and some to reap; so it is the wisdom as well as duty
of
a
man
, to yield to the mind
of
providence, and cheerfully, as well as carefully, embrace and follow the guidance
of
it."
source: A Letter from William Penn, 1683.
God
,
prividence
,
duty
,
humility
James Monroe:
"I am, against every invitation to war, and advocate
of
peace. The insults
of
Spain, Britain, or any others. ... I deem no more worthy
of
our notice as a nation than those
of
a lunatic to a
man
in health--for I consider them as desperate and raving mad."
source: To Thomas Jefferson, 1793.
war
,
peace
,
conflict
,
involvement in wars
Simeon Howard:
"Men are also bound, individuals and societies, to take care
of
their temporal happiness, and do all they lawfully can, to promote it. But what can be more inconsistent with this duty, than submitting to great encroachments upon our liberty? Such submission tends to slavery; and compleat slavery implies every evil that the malice
of
man
and devils can inflict."
source: To the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in Boston, June 7, 1773.
military
,
war
,
peace
,
slavery
,
liberty
Thomas Paine:
"Were a
man
to be totally deprived
of
memory, he would be incapable
of
forming any just opinion; every thing about him would seem a chaos; he would have even his own history to ask from every one; and by not knowing how the world went on in his absence, he would be at a loss to know how it ought to be on when he recovered, or rather, returned to it again."
source: The Crisis, 1777.
memory
,
memory loss
,
history
,
mental illness
Benjamin Franklin:
"None but the well-bred
man
knows how to confess a fault or acknowledge himself in error."
source: Poor Richard's Almanack, 1738.
manners
,
humility
,
acknowledgement
of
error
Benjamin Franklin:
"God grant, that not only the Love
of
Liberty, but a thorough Knowledge
of
the Rights
of
Man, may pervade all the Nations
of
the Earth, so that a Philosopher may set his Foot anywhere on its Surface, and say, "This is my Country."
source: Letter to David Hartley, December 4, 1789.
liberty
,
knowledge
,
constitution
,
bill
of
rights
,
education
Samuel West:
"But while we are nobly opposing with our lives and estates the tyranny
of
the British Parliament, let us not forget the duty which we owe to our lawful magistrates; let us never mistake licentiousness for liberty. The more we understand the principles
of
liberty, the more readily shall we yield obedience to lawful authority; for no
man
can oppose good government but he that is a stranger to true liberty."
source: On the Right to Rebel Against Governors, May 29, 1776.
liberty
,
tyranny
,
opression
,
good government
Patrick Henry:
"It is natural to
man
to indulge in the illusions
of
hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth--and listen to the song
of
that syren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part
of
wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be
of
the number
of
those, who having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish
of
spirit it might cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it."
source: Speech at the Virginia Convention March 23, 1775.
liberty
,
hope
,
truth
George Washington:
"That no
man
should scruple, or hesitate a moment to use arms in defence
of
so valuable a blessing [as liberty], on which all the good and evil
of
life depends, is clearly my opinion. Yet arms ... should be the last resort."
source: To George Mason, April 5, 1769.
liberty
,
defence
,
tyranny
,
right to bear arms
James Madison:
"It will be
of
little avail to the people that the laws are made by men
of
their own choice, if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood; if they be repealed or revised before they are promulgated, or undergo such incessant changes that no
man
who knows what the law is today can guess what it will be tomorrow."
source: The Federalist Papers, 1788.
lengthly bills
,
wordy legislation
,
congress
,
house
of
representatives
Thomas Paine:
"Ignorance is
of
a peculiar nature; once dispelled, it is impossible to re-establish it. It is not originally a thing
of
itself, but is only the absence
of
knowledge; and though
man
may be kept ignorant, he cannot be made ignorant."
source: Rights of Man, I, 1791.
ignorance
,
intelligence
,
knowledge
James Madison:
"As long as the reason
of
man
continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed."
source: The Federalist Papers, 1787.
facts
,
opinions
,
man's ability to reason
,
freedom
of
choice
,
agency
,
free speech
James Madison:
"The real wonder is that so many difficulties should have been surmounted... with a unanimity almost as unprecedented as it must have been unexpected. It is impossible for any
man
of
candor to reflect on this circumstance without partaking
of
the astonishment. It is impossible for the
man
of
pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger
of
that Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages
of
the revolution."
source: Federalist Papers, No. 37, pp. 230-31.
providence
,
God
,
beliefs
of
the Founders
,
revolutionary war
,
ponder
,
overcoming challenges
Benjamin Franklin:
"But what madness must it be to run in debt for these superfluities! We are offered, by the terms
of
this vendue, six months' credit; and that perhaps has induced some
of
us to attend it, because we cannot spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But, ah, think what you do when you run in debt; you give to another power over you liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor; you will be in fear when you speak to him; you will make poor pitiful sneaking excuses, and by degrees come to lose your veracity, and sink into base downright lying; for, as Poor Richard says, the second vice is lying, the first is running in debt. And again, to the same purpose, lying rides upon debt's back. Whereas a freeborn Englishman ought not to be ashamed or afraid to see or speak to any
man
living. But poverty often deprives a
man
of
all spirit and virtue: 'Tis hard for an empty bad to stand upright, as Poor Richard truly says."
source: Smyth, Writings of Benjamin Franklin, 3:416
debt
,
money
,
monetary gain
,
debtors
,
bondage
,
borrowing
,
lending
,
owing money
John Adams:
"If there is a form
of
government, whose principle and foundation is virtue, will not every sober
man
acknowledge it better calculated to promote the general happiness that any other form?"
source: "Thoughts on Government" 1776.
government
,
virtue
,
democracy
,
republic
Benjamin Franklin:
"I may venture to say that there never was a Man eminently famous but what was distinguish'd by this very Qualification [constancy], and few if any can live comfortably even in a private Life without it; for a Man who has no End in View, no Design to pursue, is like an irresolute Master
of
a Ship at Sea, that can fix upon no one Port to steer her to, and consequently can call not one Wind favourable to his Wishes."
source: "On Constancy," in the Pennsylvania Gazette, April 4, 1734.
consistency
,
commitment
,
goal setting
Thomas Jefferson:
"The moral sense, or conscience, is as much a part
of
man
as his leg or arm. It is given to all human beings in a stronger or weaker degree, as force
of
members is given them in a greater or less degree. It may be strengthened by exercise, as may any particular limb
of
the body. This sense is submitted indeed in some degree to the guidance
of
reason; but it is a small stock which is required for this: even a less one than what we call Common sense. State a moral case to a ploughman & a professor. The former will decide it as well, & often better than the latter, because he has not been led astray by artificial rules."
source: To Peter Carr, August 10, 1787.
honesty
,
conscience
,
morals
,
exercise
,
common sense
George Washington:
"No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs
of
men more than the people
of
the United States. Every step, by which they have advanced to the
character
of
an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token
of
providential agency."
source: Fitzpatrick, Writings of George Washington, 30:292.
God
,
beliefs
of
the Founders
,
providence
George Washington:
"There is no saying to what length an enterprising
man
may push his good fortune."
source: To John Lathrop, June 22, 1788.
ambition
,
goals
,
goal-setting
,
to be driven
,
captilisim
George Washington:
"It is not for
man
to scan the wisdom
of
Providence. The best he can do is to submit to its decrees."
source: To Henry Knox, March 2, 1797.
God
,
Providence
,
divinity
,
wisdom
,
humility
Thomas Jefferson:
"Modern times have the signal advantage...of having discovered the only device by which [man's equal] rights can be secured, to wit: government by the people, acting not in person but by representatives chosen by themselves, that is to say, by every
man
of
ripe years and sane mind who either contributes by his purse or person to the support
of
his country."
source: Bergh, 15:482
people control government
,
patriotism
,
country support
Benjamin Franklin:
"Here is my creed: I believe in one God, the Creator
of
the universe. That he governs it by his providence. That he ought to be worshiped. That the most acceptable service we render to him is in doing good to his other children. That the soul
of
man
is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental points in all sound religion."
source: Smyth, Writing of Benjamin Franklin, 10:84.
God
,
religion
,
beliefs
of
the Founders
,
justice
,
service
John Dickinson:
"Kings or parliaments could not give the rights essential to happiness. ... We claim them from a higher source--from the King
of
kings, and Lord
of
all the earth. They are not annexed to us by parchments and seals. They are created in us by the decrees
of
Providence ... It would be an insult on the divine Majesty to say, that he has given or allowed any
man
or body
of
men a right to make me miserable. If no
man
or body
of
men has such a right, I have a right to be happy. If there can be no happiness without freedom, I have a right to be free. If I cannot enjoy freedom without security
of
property, I have a right to be thus secured. "
source: Reply to a Committee in Barbados, 1766
happiness
,
undeniable rights
,
liberty
,
freedom
,
God
,
security
of
property
,
misery
,
parliament
John Adams:
"The first
of
qualities for a great statesman is to be honest. And if it were possible that this opinion were an error, I should rather carry it with me to my grave than to believe that a
man
cannot be a statesman without being dishonest. "
source: Letter to Willian Eustis, June 22, 1809.
honesty
,
statesman
,
congress
,
representatives
,
integrity
Thomas Jefferson:
"No free
man
shall ever be debarred the use
of
arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
source: need reference
guns
,
arms
,
firearms
Thomas Jefferson:
"We owe every other sacrifice to ourselves, to our federal brethren, and to the world at large to pursue with temper and perseverance the great experiment which shall prove that
man
is capable
of
living in [a] society governing itself by laws self-imposed, and securing to its members the enjoyment
of
life, liberty, property, and peace; and further, to show that even when the government
of
its choice shall manifest a tendency to degeneracy, we are not at once to despair, but that the will and the watchfulness
of
its sounder parts will reform its aberrations, recall it to original and legitimate principles, and restrain it within the rightful limits
of
self-government."
source: Berg, 17:445
government restraint
,
restoration
,
corruption
,
duty
of
the people
Samuel Adams:
"But neither the wisest consitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness
of
the people whose manners are universally corrupt. He, therefore, is the truest friend to liberty
of
his country who tries most to promote its virtue, an who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a
man
to be chosen into any office
of
power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous
man
."
source: Reva Marx Wadsworth. "American Constitution: Made Easy." AMCE. 1991. pg v.
election
,
virtue
,
secure
,
liberty
,
corruption
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