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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

“Why then, if these new books for children must be retained, as they will be, should not the Bible regain the place it once held as a school book ?”

Ifs Should Children Book School Christian Religious New Books Children Book

Book:Works of Fisher Ames

Source: Works of Fisher Ames

“[Why] should not the Bible regain the place it once held as a school book? Its morals are pure, its examples captivating and noble. The reverence for the Sacred Book that is thus early impressed lasts long; and probably if not impressed in infancy, never takes firm hold of the mind.”

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

“We are not to consider ourselves, while here, as at church or school, to listen to the harangues of speculative piety; we are here to talk of the political interests committed to our charge.”

School Political Interest Church Congress Committed Piety Legislature

Book:Speeches of Fisher Ames in Congress, 1789-1796

Source: Speeches of Fisher Ames in Congress, 1789-1796

“We have a dangerous trend beginning to take place in our education. We're starting to put more and more textbooks into our schools. We've become accustomed of late of putting little books into the hands of children, containing fables and moral lessons. We're spending less time in the classroom on the Bible, which should be the principal text in our schools. The Bible states these great moral lessons better than any other man-made book.”