How difficult the task to quench the fire and the pride of private ambition, and to sacrifice ourselves and all our hopes and expe...ctations to the public weal! How few have souls capable of so noble an undertaking! How often are the laurels worn by those who have had no share in earning them! But there is a future recompense of reward, to which the upright man looks, and which he will most assuredly obtain, provided he perseveres unto the end.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
That your sex are naturally tyrannical is a truth so thoroughly established as to admit of no dispute; but such of you as wish to ...be happy willingly give up the harsh title of master for the more tender and endearing one of friend.... Men of sense in all ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the vassals of your sex; regard us then as being placed by Providence under your protection, and in imitation of the Supreme Being make use of that power only for our happiness.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
I wish most sincerely there was not a slave in this province. It always appeared a most iniquitous scheme to me--to fight ourselve...s for what we are daily robbing and plundering from those who have as good a right to freedom as we have.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
If you complain of neglect of education in sons, what shall I say with regard to daughters, who every day experience the want of i...t? With regard to the education of my own children, I find myself soon out of my depth, destitute and deficient in every part of education. I most sincerely wish ... that our new Constitution may be distinguished for encouraging learning and virtue. If we mean to have heroes, statesmen, and philosophers, we should have learned women.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
I am more and more convinced that man is a dangerous creature; and that power, whether vested in many or a few, is ever grasping, ...and, like the grave, cries, "Give, give!" The great fish swallow up the small; and he who is most strenuous for the rights of the people, when vested with power, is as eager after the prerogatives of government. You tell me of degrees of perfection to which human nature is capable of arriving, and I believe it, but at the same time lament that our admiration should arise from the scarcity of the instances.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
The reins of government have been so long slackened, that I fear the people will not quietly submit to those restraints which are ...necessary for the peace and security of the community.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
...I feel anxious for the fate of our monarchy, or democracy, or whatever is to take place. I soon get lost in a labyrinth of perp...lexities; but, whatever occurs, may justice and righteousness be the stability of our times, and order arise out of confusion. Great difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
I long to hear that you have declared an independancy [sic]--and by the way in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be nec...essary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Laidies [sic] we are determined to foment a Rebelion [sic], and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
... whilst you are proclaiming peace and good will to men, Emancipating all Nations, you insist upon retaining absolute power over... wives. But you must remember that Arbitrary power is like most other things which are very hard, very liable to be broken--and notwithstanding all your wise Laws and Maxims we have it in our power not only to free ourselves but to subdue our Masters, and without violence throw both your natural and legal authority at our feet ...LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »