--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Religion is the only solid Base of morals…" description: "\"Religion is the only solid Base of morals and that Morals are the only possible Support of free governments.\" — Gouverneur Morris" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/gouverneur-morris-26042_character_religion-is-the-only-solid-base-of-moral_596425.png" --- # Religion is the only solid Base of morals and that Morals… ![“Religion is the only solid Base of morals and that Morals are the only possible Support of free governments.” quote by Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/gouverneur-morris-26042_character_religion-is-the-only-solid-base-of-moral_596425.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/gouverneur-morris-26042_character_religion-is-the-only-solid-base-of-moral_596425.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/gouverneur-morris-26042_character_religion-is-the-only-solid-base-of-moral_596425.png) > “Religion is the only solid Base of morals and that Morals are the only possible Support of free governments.” [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral foundations are essential for liberty; without them, free governments cannot survive. **In simple terms:** Morals support free societies. Key Takeaway Uphold moral principles to protect freedom. Themes ethics politics freedom Mood serious reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government formation - civil rights movements - educational curricula - public policy Key Concepts social contract virtue ethics Questions to Reflect On - What moral values are non‑negotiable for you? - How can diverse societies agree on shared ethics? A Different Perspective Moral consensus varies across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Free government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-government/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Morality and religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality-and-religion/) [Morals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morals/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) ## Related quotes > [ \[F\]or avoiding the extremes of despotism or anarchy . . . the only ground of hope must be on the morals of the people.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/f-or-avoiding-the-extremes-of-despotism-or-anarchy-the-only-ground-of/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) > [Religion is the solid basis of good morals; therefore education should teach the precepts of religion, and the duties of man toward God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/religion-is-the-solid-basis-of-good-morals-therefore-education-should/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) > [Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/religion-and-morality-are-the-essential-pillars-of-civil-society/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Nothing is more dreaded than the national government meddling with religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/nothing-is-more-dreaded-than-the-national-government-meddling-with/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Question with boldness even the existence of a god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/question-with-boldness-even-the-existence-of-a-god/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [My heart trembles when I reflect that God is just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-heart-trembles-when-i-reflect-that-god-is-just/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend to all the happiness of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-doctrines-of-jesus-are-simple-and-tend-to-all-the-happiness-of-man/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-the-duty-of-all-nations-to-acknowledge-the-providence-of-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The only foundation for . . . a republic is to be laid in Religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/the-only-foundation-for-a-republic-is-to-be-laid-in-religion-without/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation deserts the oaths . . . ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/where-is-the-security-for-property-for-reputation-for-life-if-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim tribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/of-all-the-dispositions-and-habits-which-lead-to-political-prosperity-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Without religion, I believe that learning does real mischief to the morals and principles of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/without-religion-i-believe-that-learning-does-real-mischief-to-the/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him (i.e. Jesus) by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/among-the-sayings-and-discourses-imputed-to-him-i-e-jesus-by-his/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/without-morals-a-republic-cannot-subsist-any-length-of-time-they/) Charles Carroll of Carrollton > [In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/in-vain-would-that-man-claim-the-tribute-of-patriotism-who-should/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) ## More by Gouverneur Morris > [ \[F\]or avoiding the extremes of despotism or anarchy . . . the only ground of hope must be on the morals of the people.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/f-or-avoiding-the-extremes-of-despotism-or-anarchy-the-only-ground-of/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) > [We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/we-the-people-of-the-united-states-in-order-to-form-a-more-perfect/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) > [The education of young citizens ought to form them to good manners, to accustom them to labor, to inspire them with a love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/the-education-of-young-citizens-ought-to-form-them-to-good-manners-to/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) > [Give the vote to the people who have no property, and they will sell them to the rich, who will be able to buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/give-the-vote-to-the-people-who-have-no-property-and-they-will-sell/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) > [“They (the French) have taken genius instead of reason for their guide, adopted experiment instead of experience, and wander in the dark because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/they-the-french-have-taken-genius-instead-of-reason-for-their-guide/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/there-must-be-religion-when-that-ligament-is-torn-society-is/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) > [If the people should elect, they will never fail to prefer some man of distinguished character, or services; some man, if he might so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/if-the-people-should-elect-they-will-never-fail-to-prefer-some-man-of/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) > [I anticipate the day when to command respect in the remotest regions it will be sufficient to say I am an American. Our flag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/i-anticipate-the-day-when-to-command-respect-in-the-remotest-regions/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/on-the-eve-of-the-french-revolution-it-is-impossible-to-imagine-a/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) > [Religion is the solid basis of good morals; therefore education should teach the precepts of religion, and the duties of man toward God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/religion-is-the-solid-basis-of-good-morals-therefore-education-should/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) > [Each state enjoys sovereign power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/each-state-enjoys-sovereign-power/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) > [The reflection and experience of many years have led me to consider the holy writings not only as the most authentic and instructive in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/the-reflection-and-experience-of-many-years-have-led-me-to-consider/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) > [He asks how the evil is to be remedied. I tell him that there seems to be little chance for avoiding the extremes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/he-asks-how-the-evil-is-to-be-remedied-i-tell-him-that-there-seems-to/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) > [Religion is the only solid basis of good morals; therefore education should teach the precepts of religion, and the duties of man toward God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/religion-is-the-only-solid-basis-of-good-morals-therefore-education/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) > [In adopting the republican form of government, I not only took it as a man does his wife, for better, for worse, but, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/in-adopting-the-republican-form-of-government-i-not-only-took-it-as-a/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) [Explore all 22 Gouverneur Morris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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