Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Oliver Ellsworth

Quote by Oliver Ellsworth

“Systems of religious error have been adopted in times of ignorance. It has been the interest of tyrannical kings, popes, and prelates to maintain these errors. When the clouds of ignorance began to vanish and the people grew more enlightened, there was no other way to keep them in error but to prohibit their altering their religious opinions by severe persecuting laws. In this way persecution became general throughout Europe.”

Quote by Oliver Ellsworth

Author

Oliver Ellsworth
Oliver Ellsworth

Oliver Ellsworth was a distinguished figure in the early history of the United States, serving as a former United States Senator. Born on April 29, 1745, and passing away on November 26, 1807, Ellsworth was deeply involved in the drafting of the United States Constitution and was among the signers of the Constitution. more

You May Also Like

“Among all the religious persecutions with which almost every page of modern history is stained, no victim ever suffered but for violation of what Government denominated the law of God. To prevent a similar train of evils in this country, the Constitution has wisely withheld from our Government the power of defining the divine law.”

“Government sponsorship of religious activity, including prayer services, sacred symbols, religious festivals, and the like, tends to secularize the religious activity rather than make government more ethical or religious.”

“Who does not see that . . . the same authority which can force a citizen to contribute three pence only of his property for the support of any one establishment, may force him to conform to any other establishment in all cases whatsoever?”

“There is a long American tradition of suspicion of concentrated economic power because of its tendency to corrupt government and turn it from a democracy into a plutocracy.”