Gouverneur Morris Quotes

[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.

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.

The Trial Of Zenger In 1735 Was The Germ Of American Freedom, The Morning Star Of That Liberty Which Subsequently Revolutionized America.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Each State Enjoys Sovereign Power.

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.

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.

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.

Religion Is The Solid Basis Of Good Morals; Therefore Education Should Teach The Precepts Of Religion, And The Duties Of Man Toward God.