Slavery discourages arts and manufacturing ...[and] every master of slaves is born a petty tyrant.
George MasonRead
All men are by nature born equally free and independent.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Everyone is inherently entitled to freedom and autonomy from birth.
This quote expresses the fundamental belief in the equality of all human beings at birth, emphasizing that freedom and independence are natural rights granted to everyone, regardless of their circumstances. It highlights the philosophical principle of natural rights, asserting that these liberties should not be violated by any authority or societal structure.
Themes
FreedomEqualityIndependenceRightsNature
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on civil rights, a speaker may use this quote to emphasize the idea that all individuals deserve equal treatment and opportunities.
More from George Mason
All quotes βEvery 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.
George MasonRead
There is a Passion natural to the Mind of man, especially a free Man, which renders him impatient of Restraint.
George MasonRead
Government is, or ought to be instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation, or community... when any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.
George MasonRead
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.
George MasonRead
To disarm the people... was the best and most effectual way to enslave them.
George MasonRead
Similar quotes
One problem with globalisation is that bad ideas seem to travel faster than good ones; first there was smearing tomato ketchup on everything; then drinking sugar-soaked cocktails ('Cosmo'-politanism) instead of our traditional whisky soda, and now this idea that we should abandon the poor to their fate in order to protect their dignity.
Abhijit BanerjeeRead
The principle of contradiction establishes merely the agreement of concepts, but does not itself produce concepts.
Arthur SchopenhauerRead
An iceberg is water striving to be land; a mountain, especially a Himalaya, especially Everest, is land's attempt to metamorphose into sky; it is grounded in flight, the earth mutated--nearly--into air, and become, in the true sense, exalted. Long before she ever encountered the mountain, Allie was aware of its brooding presence in her soul.
Salman RushdieRead
As for myself, I always willingly acknowledge my own self as the principal cause of every good and of every evil which may befall me; therefore, I have always found myself capable of being my own pupil, and ready to love my teacher.
Giacomo CasanovaRead
The most formidable people in the world, and now the most dangerous, people who... lay down the doctrine that every frontier must be the starting out point for invasion.
Winston ChurchillRead
If there is any God, there is only one way to please him, and that is by a conscientious discharge of your obligations to your fellow men.
Robert Green IngersollRead