Fisher Ames
Fisher Ames
Fisher Ameswas a Representative in the United States Congress from the 1st Congressional District of Massachusetts. He was an important leader of the Federalists in the House, and was noted for his oratorical skill...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionStatesman
Date of Birth19 April 1758
CountryUnited States of America
school political church
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.
book school long
[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.
children book school
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.
christian religious children
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 ?
fanaticism
That can never be reasoned down which was not reasoned up.
reputation failing scrutiny
Time never fails to bring every exalted reputation to a strict scrutiny.
fire historical democracy
Democracy, in its best state, is but the politics of Bedlam; while kept chained, its thoughts are frantic, but when it breaks loose, it kills the keeper, fires the building, and perishes.
long historical liberty
Liberty has never lasted long in a democracy, nor has it ever ended in anything better than despotism.
taken eggs mind
The gentleman puts me in mind of an old hen which persists in setting after her eggs are taken away.
america giants rising
America is rising with a giant's strength. Its bones are yet but cartilages.
law people political
I consider biennial elections as a security that the sober, second thought of the people shall be law.
country government essence
[O]ur sages in the great [constitutional] convention... intended our government should be a republic which differs more widely from a democracy than a democracy from a despotism. The rigours of a despotism often... oppress only a few, but it is the very essence and nature of a democracy, for a faction claiming to oppress a minority, and that minority the chief owners of the property and truest lovers of their country.
heart soul liberty
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.
stupid believe patriotic
The House is composed of very good men, not shining, but honest and reasonably well-informed, and in time will be found to improve, and not 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.