What John Jay thinks about government

@john-jay · 3 positions

American statesman and jurist (1745 to 1829); first Chief Justice of the US and co-author of The Federalist.

John Jay did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

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2 dated positions, 1787, in their own words. Our reading of what John Jay has said — not written or endorsed by them.

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1. 10 Nov 1787

   Our readingWeakness and division at home invite danger from abroad, and union, strength and good government guard against it

   Their wordsIt was remarked in the preceding paper, that weakness and divisions at home would invite dangers from abroad; and that nothing would tend more to secure us from them than union, strength, and good government within ourselves.

   ↗The Federalist Papers (1787-1788)gutenberg.org All 27 from this book

2. 10 days earlier

3. 31 Oct 1787

   Our readingPeople must give up some natural rights to give government the powers it needs

   Their wordsNothing is more certain than the indispensable necessity of government, and it is equally undeniable, that whenever and however it is instituted, the people must cede to it some of their natural rights in order to vest it with requisite powers.

   ↗The Federalist Papers (1787-1788)gutenberg.org All 27 from this book