We are gratified and grateful to God that the House of Representatives passed House Bill 1013. We are now reaching out to the Senate. On September 16, don't miss the opportunity for a field trip, civics lesson and a service project - all in one day - while working to change Pennsylvania's homeschool law! Sign up here today to RSVP for the event and to pick 3 of our State Senators whom you want to honor, encourage and pray for as you are led.
We ask that your children create cards or some other craft item to give our Senators as a gift. When they make these creative gifts, feel free to add a quote that means the most to you. If it inspires you, it may inspire them too!
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QUOTES FROM THE FOUNDING FATHERS
Collected by Danielle Cunningham and Gennel Zimmerman
As good
government is an empire of laws, how shall your laws be made? In a large
society, inhabiting an extensive country, it is impossible that the whole
should assemble to make laws. The first necessary step, then, is to depute
power from the many to a few of the most wise and good.
John
Adams: Thoughts on Government, 1776
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A
constitution founded on these principles introduces knowledge among the people,
and inspires them with a conscious dignity becoming freemen; a general
emulation takes place, which causes good humor, sociability, good manners, and
good morals to be general. That elevation of sentiment inspired by such a
government, makes the common people brave and enterprising. That ambition which
is inspired by it makes them sober, industrious, and frugal.
John
Adams: Thoughts on Government, 1776
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Government
is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and
happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any
one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an
incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and
to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety,
prosperity, and happiness require it.
John
Adams: Thoughts on Government, 1776
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Human
government is more or less perfect as it approaches nearer or diverges farther
from the imitation of this perfect plan of divine and moral government.
John
Adams: draft of a Newspaper Communication, Circa August 1770
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If there
is a form of government, then, whose principle and foundation is virtue, will
not every sober man acknowledge it better calculated to promote the general
happiness than any other form?
John Adams: Thoughts on Government, 1776
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Public
virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only
foundation of republics. There must be a positive passion for the public good,
the public interest, honour, power and glory, established in the minds of the
people, or there can be no republican government, nor any real liberty: and
this public passion must be superior to all private passions.
John
Adams: letter to Mercy Warren, April 16, 1776
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The
dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the
people, and every blessing of society depend so much upon an upright and
skillful administration of justice, that the judicial power ought to be
distinct from both the legislative and executive, and independent upon both,
that so it may be a check upon both, and both should be checks upon that.
John Adams:
Thoughts on Government, 1776
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They
define a republic to be a government of laws, and not of men.
John
Adams: Novanglus No. 7, March 6, 1775
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We have no
government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled
by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break
the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our
Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly
inadequate to the government of any other.
John
Adams: Address to the Military, October 11, 1798
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Since
private and publick Vices, are in Reality, though not always apparently, so
nearly connected, of how much Importance, how necessary is it, that the utmost
Pains be taken by the Publick, to have the Principles of Virtue early
inculcated on the Minds even of children, and the moral Sense kept alive, and
that the wise institutions of our Ancestors for these great Purposes be
encouraged by the Government. For no people will tamely surrender their Liberties,
nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffusd and Virtue is
preservd. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauchd
in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of
foreign Invaders.
Samuel Adams:
Letter to James Warren, November 4, 1775
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If ever
the Time should come, when vain & aspiring Men shall possess the highest
Seats in Government, our Country will stand in Need of its experienced Patriots
to prevent its Ruin
Samuel
Adams: Letter to James Warren, October 24, 1780
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I could
dwell on the importance of piety and religion; of industry and frugality; of
prudence, economy, regularity and an even government; all which are essential
to the well-being of a family. But I have not Time. I cannot however help
repeating Piety, because I think it indispensible. Religion in a Family is at
once its brightest Ornament & its best Security. The first Point of
Justice, says a Writer I have met with, consists in Piety; Nothing certainly
being so great a Debt upon us, as to render to the Creator & Preserver
those Acknowledgments which are due to Him for our Being, and the hourly
Protection he affords us.
Samuel
Adams: Letter to Thomas Wells, November 22, 1780
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If men of wisdom and knowledge, of moderation
and temperance, of patience, fortitude and perseverance, of sobriety and true
republican simplicity of manners, of zeal for the honour of the Supreme Being
and the welfare of the commonwealth; if men possessed of these other excellent
qualities are chosen to fill the seats of government, we may expect that our
affairs will rest on a solid and permanent foundation
Samuel
Adams: Letter to Elbridge Gerry, November 27, 1780
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Let
Divines, and Philosophers, Statesmen and Patriots unite their endeavours to
renovate the Age, by impressing the Minds of Men with the importance of
educating their little boys, and girls - of inculcating in the Minds of youth
the fear, and Love of the Deity, and universal Phylanthropy; and in
subordination to these great principles, the Love of their Country - of
instructing them in the Art of self government, without which they never can
act a wise part in the Government of Societys great, or small - in short of
leading them in the Study, and Practice of the exalted Virtues of the Christian
system, which will happily tend to subdue the turbulent passions of Men, and
introduce that Golden Age beautifully described in figurative language; when
the Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard lie down with the Kid - the
Cow, and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together, and the
Lyon shall eat straw like the Ox - none shall then hurt, or destroy; for the
Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord.
Samuel
Adams: Letter to John Adams, October 4, 1790
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It has
been observed, that "education has a greater influence on manners, than
human laws can have." Human laws excite fears and apprehensions, least
crimes committed may be detected and punished: But a virtuous education is
calculated to reach and influence the heart, and to prevent crimes. A very
judicious writer, has quoted Plato, who in shewing what care for the security
of States ought to be taken of the education of youth, speaks of it as almost
sufficient to supply the place both of Legislation and Administration. Such an
education, which leads the youth beyond mere outside shew, will impress their
minds with a profound reverence of the Deity, universal benevolence, and a warm
attachment and affection towards their country. It will excite in them a just
regard to Divine Revelation, which informs them of the original character and
dignity of Man; and it will inspire them with a sense of true honor, which
consists in conforming as much as possible, their principles, habits, and
manners to that original character. It will enlarge their powers of mind, and
prompt them impartially to search for truth in the consideration of every
subject that may employ their thoughts; and among other branches of knowledge,
it will instruct them in the skill of political architecture and jurisprudence;
and qualify them to discover any error, if there should be such, in the forms
and administration of Governments, and point out the method of correcting them.
Samuel
Adams: Address to Massachusetts
Legislature as Governor, January 17, 1794
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The people
alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute
government and to reform, alter, or totally change the same when their
protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it. And the federal
Constitution - according to the mode prescribed therein [Article V] - has
already undergone such amendments in several parts of it as from experience has
been judged necessary.
Samuel
Adams: the Legislature of Massachusetts,
January 19, 1796
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Our
constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly
inadequate to the government of any other
John
Adams: Unknown
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There are
many, many more if there are no snippets of these that catch your
attention. One excellent place for
locating quotes from the founding fathers is at the following website. It also has a nice search feature if you are
looking for a particular phrase or idea - http://www.foundingfatherquotes.com/
Do you have a favorite quote from one
of the Founding Fathers? If so, share it with us in comment. We might include
it in this collection.
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