18 Quotes & Sayings By Noah Webster

Noah Webster, born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1758, was the son of a Presbyterian minister. He graduated from Yale College in 1783 and was admitted to the bar in 1787. He started his own legal practice in Hartford, Connecticut, but soon left to go into business, first as a merchant and then as a land developer and speculator. He moved to New Haven in 1802 and worked as a lawyer Read more

He died on July 8, 1843, in New Haven.

1
The foundation of all free government and all social order must be laid in families and in the discipline of youth. Young persons must not only be furnished with knowledge, but they must be accustomed to subordination and subjected to the authority and influence of good principles. It will avail little that youths are made to understand truth and correct principles, unless they are accustomed to submit to be governed by them. Noah Webster
2
But when thou findest sensibility of heart, joined with softness of manners, an accomplished mind, and religion, united with sweetness of temper, modest deportment, and a love of domestic life; such is the woman who will divide the sorrows and double the joys of thy life. Take her to thyself; she is worthy to be thy nearest friend, thy companion, the wife of thy bosom. Noah Webster
3
Tyranny is the exercise of some power over a man, which is not warranted by law, or necessary for the public safety. A people can never be deprived of their liberties, while they retain in their own hands, a power sufficient to any other power in the state. Noah Webster
4
The reasonableness of the command to obey parents is clear to children, even when quite young. Noah Webster
5
When a citizen gives his suffrage to a man of known immorality he abuses his trust; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor; he betrays the interest of his country. Noah Webster
6
In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate - look to his character. Noah Webster
7
There iz no alternativ. Every possible reezon that could ever be offered for altering the spelling of wurds, stil exists in full force; and if a gradual reform should not be made in our language, it wil proov that we are less under the influence of reezon than our ance Noah Webster
8
A pure democracy is generally a very bad government, It is often the most tyrannical government on earth; for a multitude is often rash, and will not hear reason. Noah Webster
9
Unaffected modesty is the sweetest charm of female excellence, the richest gem in the diadem of her honor. Noah Webster
10
[I]f the citizens neglect their Duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the Laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizen will be violated or disregarded. Noah Webster
11
Facts which were new to me were daily presenting themselves to my mind. Noah Webster
12
Language as well as the faculty of speech was the immediate gift of God. Noah Webster
13
Power is always right weakness always wrong. Power is always insolent and despotic. Noah Webster
14
All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible. Noah Webster
15
It is the sincere desire of the writer that our citizens should early understand that the genuine source of correct republican principles is the bible, particularly the New Testament or the Christian religion. Noah Webster
16
In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed. Noah Webster
17
The Bible must be considered as the great source of all the truth by which men are to be guided in government as well as in all social transactions. Noah Webster