Men give me credit for some genius. All the genius I have lies in this; when I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the effort that I have made is what people are pleased to call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of labor and thought.

Those who have a tolerable knowledge of human nature will not stand in need of such lights.

The multitude . . . have not a sufficient stock of reason and knowledge to guide them. . . . It is not safe to trust to the virtue of any people.

[W]e must extend the authority of the Union to the persons of the citizens - the only proper objects of government.

Remember civil and religious liberty always go together: if the foundation of the one be sapped, the other will fall of course.

Self-preservation is the first principle of our nature.

Here, sir, the people govern; here they act by their immediate representatives.