Its authors meant it to be... a stumbling block to those who in after times might seek to turn a free people back into the hateful paths of despotism. They knew the proneness of prosperity to breed tyrants, and they meant when such should re-appear in this fair land and commence their vocation they should find left for them at least one hard nut to crack.

Be with a leader when he is right, stay with him when he is still right, but, leave him when he is wrong.

Quarrel not at all. No man resolved to make the most of himself can spare time for personal contention.

And, inasmuch [as] most good things are produced by labour, it follows that all such things of right belong to those whose labour has produced them. But it has so happened in all ages of the world, that some have laboured, and others have, without labour, enjoyed a large proportion of the fruits. This is wrong, and should not continue. To [secure] to each labourer the whole product of his labour, or as nearly as possible, is a most worthy object of any good government.

I fear explanations explanatory of things explained.

The severest justice may not always be the best policy

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.