A nation may be said to consist of its territory, its people, and its laws. The territory is the only part which is of certain durability.

I have endured a great deal of ridicule without much malice; and have received a great deal of kindness, not quite free from ridicule. I am used to it.

Neither let us be slandered from our duty by false accusations against us, nor frightened from it by menaces of destruction ... nor of dungeons to ourselves. Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.

When you have got an elephant by the hind legs and he is trying to run away, it's best to let him run.

Towering genius distains a beaten path.

As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew.

If there is anything that a man can do well, I say let him do it. Give him a chance.