GEORGE MASON

A few years' experience will convince us that those things which at the time they happened we regarded as our greatest misfortunes have proved our greatest blessings.

There is a Passion natural to the Mind of man, especially a free Man, which renders him impatient of Restraint.

Slavery discourages arts and manufactures.

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 Measures, which appeared to me inconsistent with common Policy and Justice.

We came equals into this world, and equals shall we go out of it.

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 the discontinuance of this disgraceful trade, because it would bring weakness and not strength to the union.

As nations can not be rewarded or punished in the next world they must be in this.

Taught to regard a part of our own Species in the most abject and contemptible Degree below us, we lose that Idea of the dignity of Man which the Hand of Nature had implanted in us, for great and useful purposes.

Your dear baby has died innocent and blameless, and has been called away by an all wise and merciful Creator, most probably from a life to misery and misfortune, and most certainly to one of happiness and bliss.

All men are by nature born equally free and independent.

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.

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 of performing.

I wish I knew where to get a good one myself; for I find cold Sheets extreamly disagreeable.

The poor despise labor when performed by slaves.

I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials.

The augmentation of slaves weakens the states; and such a trade is diabolical in itself, and disgraceful to mankind.

Every society, all government, and every kind of civil compact therefore, is or ought to be, calculated for the general good and safety of the community.

In all our associations; in all our agreements let us never lose sight of this fundamental maxim - that all power was originally lodged in, and consequently is derived from, the people.

I begin to grow heartily tired of the etiquette and nonsense so fashionable in this city.

To make representation real and actual, the number of Representatives ought to be adequate; they ought to mix with the people, think as they think, feel as they feel, ought to be perfectly amenable to them, and thoroughly acquainted with their interest and condition:

Shall any man be above Justice. Above all shall that man be above it, who can commit the most extensive injustice. When great crimes were committed I am for punishing the principal as well as the Coadjutors

No free government or the blessings of liberty can be preserved by any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality and virtue and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.

“Treason” and “bribery” will not reach many great and dangerous offenses including attempts to subvert the Constitution.

[I]t is contrary to the principles of reason and justice that any should be compelled to contribute to the maintenance of a church with which their consciences will not permit them to join, and from which they can derive no benefit

A Bill of Rights would give great quiet to the people.