Fisher Ames Quotes

The gentleman puts me in mind of an old hen which persists in setting after her eggs are taken away.

The rights of conscience, of bearing arms, of changing the government, are declared to be inherent in the people. Freedom of the press, too.

Liberty has never yet lasted long in a democracy; nor has it ever ended in any thing better than despotism.

Madison has inserted in his amendments the increase of representatives, each State having two at least. The rights of conscience, of bearing arms, of changing the government, are declared to be inherent in the people. Freedom of the press too. There is a prodigious great dose for a medicine. But it will stimulate the stomach as little as hasty pudding. It is rather food for physic. An immense mass of sweet and other herbs and roots for diet drink.

The House is composed of very good men, not shining, but honest and reasonably well-informed, and in time they will be found to improve, and not to be much inferior in eloquence, science, and dignity, to the British Commons. They are patriotic enough, and I believe there are more stupid (as well as more shining) people in the latter, in proportion.

Why then, if these books for children must be retained, as they will be, 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.

I consider biennial elections as a security that the sober, second thought of the people shall be law.

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

“But differ greatly in the sequel.” --Fisher Ames, when confronted with the declaration that all men are created equal

[The framers of the Constitution] “intended our government should be a republic, which differs more widely from a democracy than a democracy from a despotism.”

It was said by Fisher Ames that “falsehood proceeds from Maine to Georgia, while truth is pulling on his boots”.

Fisher Ames expressed the popular security more wisely, when he compared a monarchy and a republic, saying, "that a monarchy is a merchantman, which sails well, but will sometimes strike on a rock, and go to the bottom; whilst a republic is a raft, which would never sink, but then your feet are always in water."