Our Founding Fathers were concerned with
political issues of liberty, equality, law, and self-government. However, above
the rest, they were concerned with what they firmly believed to be the ultimate
purpose of life and government – the individual and aggregate happiness of the
people. Following are a few quotes from the Founders with their teachings and
counsel as to the sources and foundation of happiness.
"[T]here is no truth more thoroughly
established, than that there exists . . . an indissoluble union between virtue
and happiness." – George Washington (First Inaugural Address, 1789).
“The aggregate happiness of society, which is best promoted by the practice of a virtuous policy, is or ought to be the end
of all government.” --
George Washington (Letter to Count De
Moustier. Mount Vernon, November 1, 1790).
“[I]t is of infinite moment that you should
properly estimate the immense value of your national Union to your collective
and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and
immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as
the Palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its
preservation with jealous anxiety . . . .” –George Washington (Farewell
Address, 1796).
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead
to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In
vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism who should labor to subvert
these great Pillars of human happiness ‑these firmest props of the duties of
Men and citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to
respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections
with private and public felicity.” –George Washington (Farewell Address, 1796).
"Can it be
that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a nation with its
virtue?" -- George Washington
(Farewell
Address, 1796).
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these
are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” – Thomas Jefferson (Declaration of
Independence, 1776)
“What more is
necessary to make us a happy and a prosperous people? Still one thing more,
fellow citizens -- a wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from
injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own
pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor
the bread it has earned.” – Thomas Jefferson (First Inaugural
Address, 1801)
"If we can but
prevent the government from wasting the labours of the people, under the
pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy." - Thomas
Jefferson (Letter to Thomas Cooper, November 29, 1802).
“The order of nature [is] that individual happiness shall be
inseparable from the practice of virtue.”
– Thomas
Jefferson (Letter to M. Correa
de Serra, 1814).
“Without virtue, happiness cannot be.” – Thomas Jefferson (Letter to Amos J.
Cook, 1816).
"The equal rights of man, and the happiness
of every individual, are now acknowledged to be the only legitimate objects of
government." --Thomas Jefferson (Letter to A. Coray, 1823)
“The happiness of
society is the end of government.” – John Adams (Thoughts on Government, 1776
“The form of government which communicates ease,
comfort, security, or, in one word, happiness, to the greatest number of
persons, and in the greatest degree, is the best.” –
John Adams (Thoughts on Government, 1776
"To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical
idea." – James Madison (Virginia Ratifying
Convention, 20 June 1788).
“The diminution of public Virtue is usually
attended with that of public Happiness, and the public Liberty will not long
survive the total Extinction of Morals.” – Samuel Adams (Letter to John
Scollay, 1776).
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