A day spent helping no one but yourself is a day wasted.

This is essentially a people's contest... whose leading object is to elevate the condition of men - to lift artificial weights from all shoulders - to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all - to afford all, an unfettered start and a fair chance, in the race of life.

Achievement has no color

Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this; secured to the inventor, for a limited time, the exclusive use of his invention; and thereby added the fuel of interest to the fire of genius, in the discovery and production of new and useful things.

A man is about as happy as he makes up his mind to be.

The only security a man can ever have is the ability to do a job uncommonly well.

The power confided in me will be used to hold, occupy and possess the property and places belonging to the government, and to collect the duties and imposts.