Founder's Quote Database | The Patriot Post

Founders' Quote Database

Keywords

Author

Abigail Adams

letter to John Adams — 1784
Category: Family

I hope some future day will bring me the happiness of seeing my family again collected under our own roof, happy in ourselves and blessed in each other.

James Wilson

Lectures on Law — 1791
Category: Marriage

When divorces can be summoned to the aid of levity, of vanity, or of avarice, a state of marriage frequently becomes a state of war or strategem.

Benjamin Franklin

Rules and Maxims for Promoting Matrimonial Happiness — 1730
Category: Marriage

The happy State of Matrimony is, undoubtedly, the surest and most lasting Foundation of Comfort and Love; the Source of all that endearing Tenderness and Affection which arises from Relation and Affinity; the grand Point of Property; the Cause of all good Order in the World, and what alone preserves it from the utmost Confusion; and, to sum up all, the Appointment of infinite Wisdom for these great and good Purposes.

James Wilson

Lectures on Law — 1791
Category: Family

It is the duty of parents to maintain their children decently, and according to their circumstances; to protect them according to the dictates of prudence; and to educate them according to the suggestions of a judicious and zealous regard for their usefulness, their respectability and happiness.

John Adams

letter to Thomas Jefferson — 1814
Category: Family

As long as Property exists, it will accumulate in Individuals and Families. As long as Marriage exists, Knowledge, Property and Influence will accumulate in Families.

Samuel Adams

letter to Thomas wells — 1780
Category: Family

[T]he importance of piety and religion; of industry and frugality; of prudence, economy, regularity and an even government; all ... are essential to the well-being of a family.

Alexander Hamilton

remarks to the New York Ratifying Convention — 1788
Category: Federal Government

The great leading objects of the federal government, in which revenue is concerned, are to maintain domestic peace, and provide for the common defense. In these are comprehended the regulation of commerce that is, the whole system of foreign intercourse; the support of armies and navies, and of the civil administration.

James Madison

Federalist No. 14 — 1787
Category: Federal Government

In the first place, it is to be remembered, that the general government is not to be charged with the whole power of making and administering laws: its jurisdiction is limited to certain enumerated objects, which concern all the members of the republic, but which are not to be attained by the separate provisions of any.

Thomas Jefferson

Autobiography — 1821
Category: Federal Government

Were we directed from Washington when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread.

Alexander Hamilton

speech to the New York Ratifying Convention — 1788
Category: Federalism

While the constitution continues to be read, and its principles known, the states, must, by every rational man, be considered as essential component parts of the union; and therefore the idea of sacrificing the former to the latter is totally inadmissible.

Tenth Amendment to the Constitution (Bill of Rights) — 1791
Category: Federalism

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

James Madison

Notes on Nullification
Category: Federalism

It becomes all therefore who are friends of a Government based on free principles to reflect, that by denying the possibility of a system partly federal and partly consolidated, and who would convert ours into one either wholly federal or wholly consolidated, in neither of which forms have individual rights, public order, and external safety, been all duly maintained, they aim a deadly blow at the last hope of true liberty on the face of the Earth.

Alexander Hamilton

speech to the New York Ratifying Convention — 1788
Category: Federalism

This balance between the National and State governments ought to be dwelt on with peculiar attention, as it is of the utmost importance. It forms a double security to the people. If one encroaches on their rights they will find a powerful protection in the other. Indeed, they will both be prevented from overpassing their constitutional limits by a certain rivalship, which will ever subsist between them.

Alexander Hamilton

speech to the New York Ratifying Convention — 1788
Category: Federalism

The State governments possess inherent advantages, which will ever give them an influence and ascendancy over the National Government, and will for ever preclude the possibility of federal encroachments. That their liberties, indeed, can be subverted by the federal head, is repugnant to every rule of political calculation.

James Madison

Federalist No. 45
Category: Federalism

The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.

Thomas Jefferson

letter to Charles Hammond — 1821
Category: Federal Government

[W]hen all government, domestic and foreign, in little as in great things, shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power, it will render powerless the checks provided of one government on another.

Federal Farmer

Antifederalist Letter — 1787
Category: Federalism

Besides, to lay and collect internal taxes in this extensive country must require a great number of congressional ordinances, immediately operation upon the body of the people; these must continually interfere with the state laws and thereby produce disorder and general dissatisfaction till the one system of laws or the other, operating upon the same subjects, shall be abolished.

Thomas Jefferson

letter to Judge William Johnson — 1823
Category: Federalism

[T]he States can best govern our home concerns and the general government our foreign ones. I wish, therefore...never to see all offices transferred to Washington, where, further withdrawn from the eyes of the people, they may more secretly be bought and sold at market.

Thomas Jefferson

on Patrick Henry — 1824
Category: Founders on Founders

His temper was excellent, and he generally observed decorum in debate. On one or two occasions I have seen him angry, and his anger was terrible; those who witnessed it, were not disposed to rouse it again.

William Pierce

on James Madison — 1787
Category: Founders on Founders

Every person seems to acknowledge his greatness. He blends together the profound politician with the scholar.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist No. 85 — 1788
Category: Constitution

I never expect to see a perfect work from imperfect man.

Benjamin Franklin

1771
Category: Advice

Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.

William Pierce

on Benjamin Franklin — 1787
Category: Founders on Founders

Well known to be the greatest philosopher of the present age; -- all the operations of nature he seems to understand, --the very heavens obey him, and the Clouds yield up their Lightning to be imprisoned in his rod.

Patrick Henry

on James Madison — 1790
Category: Founders on Founders

Eloquence has been defined to be the art of persuasion. If it included persuasion by convincing, Mr. Madison was the most eloquent man I ever heard.

Patrick Henry

on George Washington — 1775
Category: Founders on Founders

[I]f you speak of solid information and sound judgement, Colonel Washington is, unquestionably the greatest man on that floor.

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