John Jay quotes

John Jay was an American judge, diplomat, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. As the first Chief Justice of the United States, he played a crucial role in shaping the new nation’s legal system. He also helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris and worked to establish the foundations of American government. Here are 22 of his quotes:

No power on earth has a right to take our property from us without our consent. (John Jay)
It is presumed, that juries are the best judges of facts; it is, on the other hand, presumed that courts are the best judges of law. But still both objects are within your power of decision ... You have a right to take it upon yourselves to judge of both, and to determine the law as well as the fact in controversy. View quote
John Jay
That men should pray and fight for their own freedom, and yet keep others in slavery, is certainly acting a very inconsistent, as well as unjust and, perhaps, impious part, but the history of mankind is filled with instances of human improprieties. View quote
John Jay
It is much to be wished that slavery may be abolished. The honour of the States, as well as justice and humanity, in my opinion, loudly call upon them to emancipate these unhappy people. To contend for our own liberty, and to deny that blessing to others, involves an inconsistency not to be excused. View quote
John Jay
It is too true, however disgraceful it may be to human nature, that nations in general will make war whenever they have a prospect of getting anything by it; nay, absolute monarchs will often make war when their nations are to get nothing by it, but for the purposes and objects merely personal, such as thirst for military glory, revenge for personal affronts, ambition, or private compacts to aggrandize or support their particular families or partisans. These and a variety of other motives, which affect only the mind of the sovereign, often lead him to engage in wars not sanctified by justice or the voice and interests of his people. View quote
John Jay
The Americans are the first people whom heaven has favoured with an opportunity of deliberating upon and choosing forms of government under which they should live. View quote
John Jay
Similar sentiments have hitherto prevailed among all orders and denominations of men among us. To all general purposes we have uniformly been one people; each individual citizen everywhere enjoying the same national rights, privileges, and protection. As a nation we have made peace and war: as a nation we have vanquished our common enemies: as a nation we have formed alliances, and made treaties, and entered into various compacts and conventions with foreign States. View quote
John Jay
Our people had been so long accustomed to the practice and convenience of having slaves, that very few among them even doubted the propriety and rectitude of it. Some liberal and conscientious men had indeed, by their conduct and writings, drawn the lawfulness of slavery into question. View quote
John Jay
With equal pleasure I have as often taken notice, that Providence has been pleased to give this one connected country, to one united people; a people descended from the same ancestors, speaking the same language, professing the same religion, attached to the same principles of government, very similar in their manners and customs, and who, by their joint counsels, arms and efforts, fighting side by side throughout a long and bloody war, have nobly established their general Liberty and Independence. View quote
John Jay
Slaves, though held by the laws of men, are free by the laws of God. View quote
John Jay
This country and this people seem to have been made for each other, and it appears as if it was the design of Providence, that an inheritance so proper and convenient for a band of brethren, united to each other by the strongest ties, should never be split into a number of unsocial, jealous, and alien sovereignties. (John Jay)
Distrust naturally creates distrust, and by nothing is good-will and kind conduct more speedily changed than by invidious jealousies and uncandid imputations, whether expressed or implied. View quote
John Jay
Those who own the country ought to govern it. View quote
John Jay
Man, in his present state, appears to be a degraded creature; his best gold is mixed with dross, and his best motives are very far from being pure and free from earth and impurity. View quote
John Jay
It certainly is very desirable that a pacific disposition should prevail among all nations. View quote
John Jay
Real Christians will abstain from violating the rights of others, and therefore will not provoke war. View quote
John Jay
Among the strange things of this world, nothing seems more strange than that men pursuing happiness should knowingly quit the right and take a wrong road, and frequently do what their judgments neither approve nor prefer. View quote
John Jay
We perceive that a great breach has been made in the moral and physical systems by the introduction of moral and physical evil; how or why, we know not; so, however, it is, and it certainly seems proper that this breach should be closed and order restored. View quote
John Jay
Similar sentiments have hitherto prevailed among all orders and denominations of men among us. To all general purposes we have uniformly been one people; each individual citizen everywhere enjoying the same national rights, privileges, and protection. View quote
John Jay
It is much to be wished that slavery may be abolished. View quote
John Jay
The Bible is the best of all books, for it is the word of God and teaches us the way to be happy in this world and in the next. (John Jay)
Every man of every color and description has a natural right to freedom. View quote
John Jay

John Jay

John Jay - Image
Occupation: American Judge
Born: December 12, 1745
Died: May 17, 1829
Quotes count: 22
Wikipedia: John Jay