George Mason Quotes

42 quotes in 726 categories

• The laws of nature are the laws of God, whose authority can be superseded by no power on earth.
• No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people, but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality and…
• The augmentation of slaves weakens the states; and such a trade is diabolical in itself, and disgraceful to mankind.
• [W]hen the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man, who was governor of Pennsylvania,…
• I ask you sir, who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people.
• That the people have a Right to mass and to bear arms; that a well regulated militia composed of the Body of the people, trained…
• The [President's] Nomination, of Course, brings the Subject fully under the Consideration of the Senate; who have then a Right to decide upon its Propriety…
• Government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit and security of the people, nation or community; whenever any government shall be found…
• Habituated from our Infancy to trample upon the Rights of Human Nature, every generous, every liberal Sentiment, if not extinguished, is enfeebled in our Minds.
• As much as I value an union of all the states, I would not admit the southern states into the union, unless they agreed to…
• Attend with Diligence and strict Integrity to the Interest of your Correspondents and enter into no Engagements which you have not the almost certain Means…
• I retired from public Business from a thorough Conviction that it was not in my Power to do any Good, and very much disgusted with…
• Slavery discourages arts and manufacturing ...[and] every master of slaves is born a petty tyrant.
• Nothing so strongly impels a man to regard the interest of his constituents, as the certainty of returning to the general mass of the people,…
• Who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people, except a few public officers. But I cannot say who will be the militia…
• Those gentlemen, who will be elected senators, will fix themselves in the federal town, and become citizens of that town more than of your state.
• Don't wait around for your life to happen to you. Find something that makes you happy, and do it. Because everything else is all just…
• It is contrary to the principles of reason and justice that any should be compelled to contribute to the maintenance of a church with which…
• Who are the militia, if they be not the people of this country...? I ask, who are the militia? They consist of now of the…
• Slavery discourages arts and manufactures.

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