Good and wise men, in all ages, have embraced a very dissimilar theory. They have supposed that the deity, from the relations we stand in to himself and to each other, has constituted an eternal and immutable law, which is indispensably obligatory upon all mankind, prior to any human institution whatever. This is what is called the law of nature....Upon this law depend the natural rights of mankind.

Foreign influence is truly the Grecian horse to a republic. We cannot be too careful to exclude its influence.

For my part, I sincerely esteem the Constitution, a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests.

Of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people, commencing demagogues and ending tyrants.

Effective resistance to usurpers is possible only provided the citizens understand their rights and are disposed to defend them.

People sometimes attribute my success to my genius; all the genius I know anything about is hard work.

A fondness for power is implanted in most men, and it is natural to abuse it when acquired.