Freedom Quote by Gouverneur Morris
![“[On the eve of the French Revolution:] It is impossible to imagine a more disorderly Assembly. They neither reason, examine, nor discuss. They clap those whom they approve and hiss those whom they disapprove. . . . Everything almost is elective, and consequently no one obeys. It is an anarchy…” quote by Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/77a/gouverneur-morris-26042_freedom_on-the-eve-of-the-french-revolution-it-i_1720772.jpg)
““[On the eve of the French Revolution:] It is impossible to imagine a more disorderly Assembly. They neither reason, examine, nor discuss. They clap those whom they approve and hiss those whom they disapprove. . . . Everything almost is elective, and consequently no one obeys. It is an anarchy beyond conception, and they will be obliged to take back their chains for some time to come at least. And so much for that licentious spirit which they dignify with the name of "Love of Liberty." Their Literati, whose heads are turned by romantic notions picked up in books, and who are too lofty to look down upon that kind of man which really exists, and too wise to heed the dictates of common-sense and experience, have turned the heads of their countrymen, and they have run-a-muck at a Don Quixote constitution such as you are blessed with in Pennsylvania. I need say no more. You will judge of the effects of such a constitution upon people supremely depraved.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Letter to a friend, 1787, United States Constitutional Convention
Morris criticizes the chaotic, unstructured deliberation of a revolutionary assembly, warning that unchecked liberty leads to disorder and eventual repression.
In simple terms: Unchecked liberty can become chaos and lead to oppression.
Key Takeaway
Beware of unrestrained freedom without structure.
Themes
politics
revolution
government
liberty
order
Mood
cautious
critical
reflective
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- parliamentary debates
- revolutionary movements
- constitutional drafting
- public assemblies
- political reform
Key Concepts
anarchy
democratic theory
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance liberty with order?
- What safeguards prevent anarchy in democratic processes?
A Different Perspective
Might overlook the benefits of passionate dissent and the role of dissent in progress.
![“[T]he great decided effective Majority is now for the Republic," he told Jefferson in late October 1792, but whether it would endure for even six months "must depend on the Form of Government which shall be presented by the Convention" and whether it could "strike out that happy Mean which secures…” quote by Melanie Randolph Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c5e/melanie-randolph-miller-190458_divine-providence_t-he-great-decided-effective-majority-is_1307754.jpg)
![“[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…” quote by Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3e6/gouverneur-morris-26042_anarchy_f-or-avoiding-the-extremes-of-despotism_622195.jpg)
![“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.” quote by Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b75/gouverneur-morris-26042_important_there-must-be-religion-when-that-ligamen_1508211.jpg)
