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Fisher Ames

Fisher Ames Quotes

Former United States Representative

Fisher Ames was a significant figure in the early history of the United States, serving as a Representative from Massachusetts. He was instrumental in drafting the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Ames was born on April 9, 1758, and died on July 4, 1808.

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Famous Fisher Ames Quotes

“We are, heart and soul, friends to the freedom of the press...It is a precious pest, and a necessary mischief, and there would be no liberty without it.”

Heart Soul Would Be Liberty Presses Heart And Soul Mischief Freedom Of The Press Pests

Book:The influences of democracy on liberty, property and the happiness of society, considered, by an American [F. Ames], to which is prefixed, an introduction by H. Ewbank

Source: The influences of democracy on liberty, property and the happiness of society, considered, by an American [F. Ames], to which is prefixed, an introduction by H. Ewbank

“Our liberty depends on our education, our laws, and habits . . . it is founded on morals and religion, whose authority reigns in the heart, and on the influence all these produce on public opinion before that opinion governs rulers.”

Heart Law Liberty Moral Opinion Virtue Influence Produce Depends Habit Authority Rulers Reign Public Opinion Morality And Religion Moral Virtues

Book:The influences of democracy on liberty, property, and the happiness of society, considered

Source: The influences of democracy on liberty, property, and the happiness of society, considered

“Liberty is not to be enjoyed, indeed it cannot exist, without the habits of just subordination; it consists, not so much in removing all restraint from the orderly, as in imposing it on the violent.”

Freedom Liberty Habit Violent Enjoyed Restraint Imposing Orderly Subordination

Book:Works of Fisher Ames, compiled by a number of his friends

Source: Works of Fisher Ames, compiled by a number of his friends

“The known propensity of a democracy is to licentiousness which the ambitious call, and ignorant believe to be liberty.”

Believe Known Liberty Democracy Ignorant Ambitious Propensity

Book:Works of Fisher Ames, compiled by a number of his friends

Source: Works of Fisher Ames, compiled by a number of his friends

“I am commonly opposed to those who modestly assume the rank of champions of liberty, and make a very patriotic noise about the people. It is the stale artifice which has duped the world a thousand times, and yet, though detected, it is still successful. I love liberty as well as anybody. I am proud of it, as the true title of our people to distinction above others; but . . . I would guard it by making the laws strong enough to protect it.”

Source: Works of Fisher Ames: Memoir, by J. T. Kirkland. Letters

“Liberty has never lasted long in a democracy, nor has it ever ended in anything better than despotism.”

Long Liberty Democracy Historical Despotism

Author:Fisher Ames

“A large portion of our citizens, who will not believe, even on the evidence of facts, that any public evils exist, or are impending. They deride the apprehensions of those who foresee, that licentiousness will prove, as it ever has proved, fatal to liberty.”

Believe Facts Evil Liberty Citizens Prove Evidence Portions Apprehension

Book:Works of Fisher Ames: With a Selection from His Speeches and Correspondence

Source: Works of Fisher Ames: With a Selection from His Speeches and Correspondence