...Convention was held to save the new country from civil war over trade issues, George Washington said, "We have, probably, had too good an opinion of human nature in forming our country." The other delegates now agreed that "people were, by nature, selfish," and tried to shape...

...Jay in 1786 that in his opinion virtue had "in a great degree, taken its departure from our Land." "We have probably had too good an opinion of human nature in forming our confederation," he wrote in the mid-1780s, adding that men would not "adopt & carry into execution, measures the best...

...my own. What the event will be, is also beyond the reach of my foresight. We have errors to correct. We have probably had too good an opinion of human nature in forming our confederation. . . . It is too much to be feared, as you observe, that the better kind of people, being disgusted...

...same time, he who had always striven to succeed was now unsure of success. We have errors to correct. We have probably had too good an opinion of human nature in forming our confederation. Experience has taught us, that men will not adopt and carry into execution, measures the best calculated...

...my own. What the event will be is also beyond the reach of my foresight. We have errors to correct ; we have probably had too good an opinion of human nature in forming our confederation. Experience has taught us that men will not adopt and carry into execution measures the best calculated...

...He complained to John Jay in 1786 that virtue had "in a great degree, taken its departure from us." "We have probably had too good an opinion of human nature in forming our confederation," he wrote about the same time.86 The word of God proved "that the best Institutions may be abused by...

...my own. What the event will be, is also beyond the reach of my foresight. We have errors to correct; Experience has taught us, that men will not adopt and carry into execution measures the best calculated...