To presume a want of motives for such contests . . . would be to forget that men are ambitious, vindictive, and rapacious.

Has it not. . . invariably been found that momentary passions, and immediate interests, have a more active and imperious control over human conduct than general or remote considerations of policy, utility and justice?

A promise must never be broken.

The honor of a nation is its life. Deliberately to abandon it is to commit an act of political suicide.

A well adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without getting nervous.

There is one transcendant advantage belonging to the province of the State governments . . . -I mean the ordinary administration of criminal and civil justice.

It is of the nature of war to increase the executive at the expense of the legislative authority.