---
title: "1 Powers Congress Quotes By Oliver Ellsworth"
description: "1 Powers Congress quotes by Oliver Ellsworth. Plus more from Oliver Ellsworth and more Powers Congress sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/oliver-ellsworth-29122_abuse_the-powers-of-congress-must-be-defined-b_725408.jpg"
---

> [The powers of congress must be defined, but their means must be adequate to the purposes of their constitution. It is possible there may be abuses and misapplications; still, it is better to hazard something than to hazard at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-powers-of-congress-must-be-defined-but-their-means-must-be/)

[Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/oliver-ellsworth-29122_abuse_the-powers-of-congress-must-be-defined-b_725408.jpg)

## More by Oliver Ellsworth

> [A people cannot long retain their freedom, whose government is incapable of protecting them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/a-people-cannot-long-retain-their-freedom-whose-government-is/)

[Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/)

> [A government capable of controlling the whole, and bringing its force to a point, is one of the prerequisites for national liberty. We combine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/a-government-capable-of-controlling-the-whole-and-bringing-its-force/)

[Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/)

> [The Thirteen States are Thirteen Sovereign bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-thirteen-states-are-thirteen-sovereign-bodies/)

[Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/)

> [The powers of congress must be defined, but their means must be adequate to the purposes of their constitution. It is possible there may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-powers-of-congress-must-be-defined-but-their-means-must-be/)

[Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/)

> [Systems of religious error have been adopted in times of ignorance. It has been the interest of tyrannical kings, popes, and prelates to maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/systems-of-religious-error-have-been-adopted-in-times-of-ignorance-it/)

[Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/)

> [The charge of being ambiguous and indefinite may be brought against every human composition, and necessarily arises from the imperfection of language. Perhaps no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-charge-of-being-ambiguous-and-indefinite-may-be-brought-against/)

[Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/)

> [The power of collecting money from the people is not to be rejected because it has sometimes been oppressive. Public credit is as necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-power-of-collecting-money-from-the-people-is-not-to-be-rejected/)

[Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/)

> [The right of the judge to inflict punishment gives him both power and opportunity to oppress the innocent; yet none but crazy men will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-right-of-the-judge-to-inflict-punishment-gives-him-both-power-and/)

[Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/)

> [“Liberty is a word which, according as it is used, comprehends the most good and the most evil of any in the world. Justly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/liberty-is-a-word-which-according-as-it-is-used-comprehends-the-most/)

[Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/)

> [Some persons never attain to the happy art of perspicuous expression, and it is equally true that some persons, thro' a mental defect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/some-persons-never-attain-to-the-happy-art-of-perspicuous-expression/)

[Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/)

> [Liberty is a word which, according as it is used, comprehends the most good and the most evil of any in the world. Justly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/liberty-is-a-word-which-according-as-it-is-used-comprehends-the-most-2/)

[Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/)

> [The sole purpose and effect of it is to exclude persecution and to secure the important right of religious liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-sole-purpose-and-effect-of-it-is-to-exclude-persecution-and-to/)

[Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/)

> [A desire of gain is common to mankind, and the general motive to business and industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/a-desire-of-gain-is-common-to-mankind-and-the-general-motive-to/)

[Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/)

> [All good men wish the entire abolition of slavery, as soon as it can take place with safety to the public, and for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/all-good-men-wish-the-entire-abolition-of-slavery-as-soon-as-it-can/)

[Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/)

> [Legislatures have no right to set up an inquisition and examine into the private opinions of men. Test-laws are useless and ineffectual, unjust and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/legislatures-have-no-right-to-set-up-an-inquisition-and-examine-into/)

[Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/)

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