Slavery discourages arts and manufacturing ...[and] every master of slaves is born a petty tyrant.
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Governments exist to serve the people, and they have the right to change or abolish inadequate governments.
George Mason emphasizes that the primary purpose of government is to ensure the welfare, safety, and benefit of its citizens. If a government fails to fulfill these responsibilities, the people have the inherent right to reform or dismantle it in order to create a system that promotes the common good, reflecting the principles of democracy and public accountability.
Themes
GovernmentBenefitPeopleRightsChangeCommon Good
In practice
Example use cases
During a political rally, to inspire citizens to take action against unjust governance.
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
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
All men are by nature born equally free and independent.
George MasonRead
To disarm the people... was the best and most effectual way to enslave them.
George MasonRead
Similar quotes
Powerful government tends to draw into it people with bloated egos, people who think they know more than everyone else and have little hesitance in coercing their fellow man. Or as Nobel Laureate Friedrich Hayek said, "in government, the scum rises to the top".
Walter E. WilliamsRead
The countries of Europe are too small to guarantee their peoples the necessary prosperity and social development. The European states must constitute themselves into a federation.
Jean MonnetRead
Government is never more dangerous than when our desire to have it help us blinds us to its great power to harm us.
Ronald ReaganRead
At least from a national security standpoint, none of the problems the U.S. and U.K. face will become easier to solve if the U.K. is out of the E.U.; on the contrary, I fear that a 'Brexit' would only make our world even more dangerous and difficult to manage.
David PetraeusRead
Political figures who talk a lot about liberty and freedom invariably turn out to mean the freedom to not pay taxes and discriminate based on race; freedom to hold different ideas and express them, not so much.
Paul KrugmanRead
TRUST, n. In American politics, a large corporation composed in greater part of thrifty working men, widows of small means, orphans in the care of guardians and the courts, with many similar malefactors and public enemies.
Ambrose BierceRead