Gouverneur Morris Quotes

• The rich will strive to establish their dominion and enslave the rest. They
  always did...they always will. They will have the same effect here as
  elsewhere, if we do not, by the power of government, keep them in their proper
  spheres.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Power, Government, Political

  92 Copy quote

• This magistrate is not the king. The people are the king.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Kings, Umpires, People

  60 Copy quote

• We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Blessing, Order, America

  62 Copy quote

• Give the vote to the people who have no property, and they will sell them to the rich, who will be able to buy them.

  Gouverneur Morris

  People, Giving, Able

  54 Copy quote

• Religion is the only solid Base of morals and that Morals are the only possible Support of free governments.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Government, Support, Religion

  Gouverneur Morris, (2013). “A Diary of the French Revolution”, p.410, Read Books Ltd

  51 Copy quote

• The education of young citizens ought to form them to good manners, to accustom them to labor, to inspire them with a love of order, and to impress them with respect for. lawful authority. Religion is the only solid basis of good morals; therefore education should teach the precepts of religion, and the duties of man towards God.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Education, Men, Order

  45 Copy quote

• Religion is the solid basis of good morals; therefore education should teach the precepts of religion, and the duties of man toward God.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Men, Moral, Should

  30 Copy quote

• 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.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Writing, Reflection, Men

  33 Copy quote

• In adopting the republican form of government, I not only took it as a man does his wife, for better, for worse, but, what few men do with their wives, I took it knowing all its bad qualities.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Men, Knowing, Wife

  Statement to John Dickinson, May 23, 1803.

  28 Copy quote

• Each state enjoys sovereign power.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Sovereign, States, Enjoy

  26 Copy quote

• I anticipate the day when to command respect in the remotest regions it will be sufficient to say I am an American. Our flag shall then wave in glory over the ocean and our commerce feel no restraint but what our own government may impose. Happy thrice happy day. Thank God, to reach this envied state we need only to will. Yes my countrymen. Our destiny depends on our will. But if we would stand high on the record of time that will must be inflexible.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Ocean, Destiny, Government

  31 Copy quote

• He asks how the evil is to be remedied. I tell him that there seems to be little chance for avoiding the extremes of despotism or anarchy; that the only ground of hope must be the morals of the people, but that these are, I fear, too corrupt.

  Gouverneur Morris

  People, Evil, Littles

  Gouverneur Morris (1888). “The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris: Minister of the United States to France ... Etc”

  27 Copy quote

• Nine-tenths of the people are at present freeholders... The time is not distant when this country will abound with mechanics and manufacturers who will receive their bread from their employers. Will such men be the secure and faithful guardians of liberty? Give the votes to people who have no property, and they will sell them to the rich who will be able to buy them.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Wisdom, Country, Men

  26 Copy quote

• If the people should elect, they will never fail to prefer some man of distinguished character, or services; some man, if he might so speak of continental reputation.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Character, Men, People

  29 Copy quote

• There must be religion. When that ligament is torn, society is disjointed and its members perish... [T]he most important of all lessons is the denunciation of ruin to every state that rejects the precepts of religion.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Important, Lessons, Ruins

  "Collections of the New-York Historical Society" by I. Riley, 1821.

  19 Copy quote

• The trial of Zenger in 1735 was the germ of American freedom, the morning star of that liberty which subsequently revolutionized America.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Morning, Stars, America

  20 Copy quote

• Religion is the only solid basis of good morals; therefore education should teach the precepts of religion, and the duties of man toward God. These duties are, internally, love and adoration: externally, devotion and obedience; therefore provision should be made for maintaining divine worship as well as education. But each one has a right to entire liberty as to religious opinions, for religion is the relation between God and man; therefore it is not within the reach of human authority.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Religious, Men, Liberty

  18 Copy quote

• I look forward serenely to the course of events, confident that the Fountain of supreme wisdom and virtue will provide for the happiness of his creatures... Whenever the present storm subsides, I shall rush with eagerness into the bosom of private life, but while it continues, and while my country calls for the exertion of that little share of abilities, which it has pleased God to bestow on me, I hold it my indispensable duty to give myself to her.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Country, Giving, Storm

  16 Copy quote

• [F]or avoiding the extremes of despotism or anarchy . . . the only ground of hope must be on the morals of the people. I believe that religion is the only solid base of morals and that morals are the only possible support of free governments. [T]herefore education should teach the precepts of religion and the duties of man towards God.

  Gouverneur Morris

  Believe, Men, People

  13 Copy quote

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