John Jay

Great Quotes By: JOHN JAY

Letter to his wife, Sally Jay, 20 April 1794:

God’s will be done; to him I resign–in him I confide. Do the like. Any other philosophy applicable to this occasion is delusive. Away with it.

Letter to Rev. Uzal Ogden, 14 February 1796:

I have long been of opinion that the evidence of the truth of Christianity requires only to be carefully examined to produce conviction in candid minds.

Jay to Jedidiah Morse, 28 Feb 1797:

Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.

It is to be regretted, but so I believe the fact to be, that except the Bible there is not a true history in the world. Whatever may be the virtue, discernment, and industry of the writers, I am persuaded that truth and error (though in different degrees) will imperceptibly become and remain mixed and blended until they shall be separated forever by the great and last refining fire.

Jay to Jedidiah Morse, 16 August 1809:

A proper history of the United States would have much to recommend it: in some respects it would be … unlike all others; it would develop the great plan of Providence, for causing this extensive part of our world to be discovered, and these “uttermost parts of the earth” to be gradually filled with civilized and Christian people and nations…. The historian, in the course of the work, is never to lose sight of that great plan.


Selected by Dr. Alan Snyder