A Quote by Henry Clay

The Constitution of the United States was made not merely for the generation that then existed, but for posterity- unlimited, undefined, endless, perpetual posterity.

Henry Clay

Quote Topics

Constitution Constitution Of The United States Endless Existed Generation Made Merely Perpetual Posterity States Then Undefined United United States Unlimited

Quote Author

Henry Clay
American - Statesman
April 12, 1777 - June 29, 1852

The Constitution, when it says, "We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America," meant just what it said without reference to color or condition, ad infinitum.

Joseph Smith, Jr.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Gouverneur Morris

Sir, very few people reach posterity. Who amongst us may arrive at that destination I presume not to vaticinate. Posterity is a most limited assembly. Those gentlemen who reach posterity are not much more numerous than the planets.

Benjamin Disraeli

Few can be induced to labor exclusively for posterity; and none will do it enthusiastically. Posterity has done nothing for us; and theorize on it as we may, practically we shall do very little for it, unless we are made to think we are at the same time doing something for ourselves.

Abraham Lincoln

Why should I care about posterity? What's posterity ever done for me?

Groucho Marx

Few can be induced to labor exclusively for posterity - Posterity has done nothing for us

Abraham Lincoln

The thing with all the Founding Fathers, one of the most common words they used was 'posterity.' They were constantly referring to posterity.

Ron Chernow

The sovereignty of the States is the language of the Confederacy and not the language of the Constitution. The latter contains the emphatic words. This Constitution and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof and all treaties made or which shall be made under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding

Andrew Johnson

Why should we put ourselves out of our way to do anything for posterity? For what has posterity ever done for us?

Boyle Roche

What artists call posterity is the posterity of the work of art.

Marcel Proust

If the union of these States, and the liberties of this people, shall be lost, it is but little to any one man of fifty-two yearsof age, but a great deal to the thirty millions of people who inhabit these United States, and to their posterity in all coming time.

Abraham Lincoln

Posterity alone rightly judges kings. Posterity alone has the right to accord or withhold honors.

Napoleon Bonaparte

I regard posterity as vulgar as success. I don't trust posterity. I don't think what's good is necessarily recognized in the long run. Too many good writers have disappeared.