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

[T]here is not a syllable in the plan under consideration which directly empowers the national courts to construe the laws according to the spirit of the Constitution.

Law is defined to be a rule of action; but how can that be a rule, which is little known and less fixed?

Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals for the most part governed by the impulse of passion.

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.

The Achaeans soon experienced, as often happens, that a victorious and powerful ally is but another name for a master.

A fondness for power is implanted in most men, and it is natural to abuse it when acquired. This maxim, drawn from the experience of all ages, makes it the height of folly to intrust any set of men with power which is not under every possible control; perpetual strides are made after more as long as there is any part withheld.