“May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us in all our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy.”

A prayer to be said each day and a creed by which to live ones life.

My guess is that George probably wasn't in favor of a Welfare / Warfare state.

Wonderful! It makes me think of the darkness or confusion shed by some fellow contributors who transpose "United States" to States United and the name, title or style of our country, "The United States of America" (Aricles of Confederation state, "the style of this confederacy shall be "the United States of America") to such things as "The American Republic" and "the United States is a republic not a democracy". Let our usefullness include being true and accurate and not distorting or confusing language for some political purpose.

I'm sorry, but I find this incredibably niave and presumtious. I'm sure it was written for a reason, one which we are not privy too.

SRQ, this quote seems pretty good to me, I doubt that Washington was either naive or presumtious, certainly not naive.

An excellent quote; I feel for those that don't get its majesty. Waffler, your diatribe never ceases to amaze me, I just smile and shake my head.

Amen. I always liked the way Deists spoke.

OK, Waffler, I'll bite. Your incorrect assertion has been addressed by the words of Adams, Franklin, Madison -- even Washington -- and you have blithely ignored them all. Here is what Jefferson said:
"The way to have good and safe government is not to trust it all to one, but to divide it among the many, distributing to everyone exactly the functions in which he is competent ...
- To let the National Government be entrusted with the defense of the nation, and its foreign and federal relations ...
- The State Governments with the Civil Rights, Laws, Police and administration of what concerns the State generally.
- The Counties with the local concerns, and each ward direct the interests within itself.
It is by dividing and subdividing these Republics from the great national one down through all its subordinations until it ends in the administration of everyman's farm by himself, by placing under everyone what his own eye may superintend, that all will be done for the best." So-called Democracy does not divide and subdivide but rather centralizes to 'one' and imposes its will upon all -- otherwise known as the 'tyranny of the majority.' Now cut it out! This is not the America we have fought and died for.

I hate to argue with the father of our country, but I have to go along with SRQ. The quote says nothing to me. I suppose the fact I don't recognize a "father of all mercies" has something to do with it.

Great quotes, Thank you !
Thy testimonies are wonderful : therefore doth my soul keep them.
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple.
Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.
Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
Psalm 119: 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134

My guess is ether Mr. Paul or Mr. President ?

Or Publius

We should meet.

Merry Christmas to all