There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.

A feeble executive implies a feeble execution of the government. A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution; and a government ill executed, whatever may be its theory, must be, in practice, a bad government.

Tyranny has perhaps oftener grown out of the assumptions of power, called for, on pressing exigencies, by a defective constitution, than out of the full exercise of the largest constitutional authorities.

The passions of a revolution are apt to hurry even good men into excesses.

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.

We are attempting, by this Constitution, to abolish factions, and to unite all parties for the general welfare.

Constitutions should consist only of general provisions; the reason is that they must necessarily be permanent, and that they cannot calculate for the possible change of things.