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
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.
In practice
During a speech on civil rights, a speaker may use this quote to emphasize the idea that all individuals deserve equal treatment and opportunities.
Slavery discourages arts and manufacturing ...[and] every master of slaves is born a petty tyrant.
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.
There is a Passion natural to the Mind of man, especially a free Man, which renders him impatient of Restraint.
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.
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.
To disarm the people... was the best and most effectual way to enslave them.
God and Nature first made us what we are, and then out of our own created genius we make ourselves what we want to be. Follow always that great law. Let the sky and God be our limit and Eternity our measurement.
Renunciation - non-resistance - non-destructiveness - are the ideals to be attained through less and less worldliness, less and less resistance, less and less destructiveness. Keep the ideal in view and work towards it. None can live in the world without resistance, without destruction, without desire. The world has not come to that state yet when the ideal can be realised in society.
People's ability to forget what they do not want to know, to overlook what is before their eyes, was seldom put to the test better than in Germany at that time.
The goal of fasting is inner unity.
The church is like a swimming pool. Most of the noise comes from the shallow end.
No one hath seen beauty in its highest lustre who hath never seen it in distress.
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