Hence, in a state of nature, no man had any moral power to deprive another of his life, limbs, property, or liberty; nor the least authority to command or exact obedience from him, except that which arose from the ties of consanguinity.

A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.

The idea of restraining the legislative authority, in the means of providing for the national defense, is one of those refinements which owe their origin to a zeal for liberty more ardent than enlightened.

To answer the purpose of the adversaries of the Constitution, they ought to prove, not merely that particular provisions in it are not the best, which might have been imagined; but that the plan upon the whole is bad and pernicious.

[A] power equal to every possible contingency must exist somewhere in the government . . .

The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge right or make good decision.

Men often oppose a thing merely because they have had no agency in planning it, or because it may have been planned by those whom they dislike.