George Mason

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

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

“The poor despise labor when performed by slaves.”

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

“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.”

“Slavery discourages arts and manufactures.”

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

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

“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.”

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

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

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

“All men are by nature born equally free and independent.”

“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.”

“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.”