Tao Te Ching
George Mason
1725 – 1792 CE
First American abolitionist, founding father, and Constitutional savior
American Founding Father, author and primary advocate for the original Bill of Rights, George Washington friend and neighbor, and “the first known abolitionist”; George Mason helped create the American political foundation. Although he wrote many of the clauses and points in the Constitution, he was one of only 3 delegates who refused to sign it because of it sanctioning slavery. Recognizing defects in the Constitution and the inevitable need to change it, he became instrumental in bringing into the constitution provisions for changing it (Amendments) and for adding new states. This made it easy to make changes without violence while creating a strong foundation for the trajectory that became a transoceanic federal republic. The primary force for including articles of impeachment into the Constitution, he wrote the phrase, “other high crimes and misdemeanors.” Because he remained a contrarian and because most of his papers were lost in fire, history doesn’t remember him well and he became "a prophet without honor in his own country.” The results of his efforts, however, brilliantly support modern political freedoms.
Lineages
American (USA) Politicians
Eras
Chinese
Qing dynasty (1644 – 1912 CE)Unlisted Sources
Virginia Declaration of Rights, 1776
Quotes by George Mason (9 quotes)
“We came equals into this world, and equals shall we go out of it.”
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“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… The augmentation of slaves weakens the states; and such a trade is diabolical in itself, and disgraceful to mankind.”
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“I begin to grow heartily tired of the etiquette and nonsense so fashionable in this city.”
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“Don't wait around for your life to happen to you. Find something that makes you happy, and do it. Because everything else is all just background noise.”
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“A few years' experience will convince us that those things which at the time they happened we regarded as our greatest misfortunes have proved our greatest blessings.”
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“In all our associations; in all our agreements let us never lose sight of this fundamental maxim - that all power was originally lodged in, and consequently is derived from, the people.”
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“All men are created equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights… enjoyment of life and liberty with the means of acquiring and possessing property, pursuing happiness and safety.”
from Virginia Declaration of Rights, 1776
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“Government is—or should be—instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people… When it is found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, the majority has an unalienable right to reform, alter or abolish it.”
from Virginia Declaration of Rights, 1776
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“Religion can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence. Therefore it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other.”
from Virginia Declaration of Rights, 1776
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