The territorial aristocracy of former ages was either bound by law, or thought itself bound by usage, to come to the relief of its serving-men and to relieve their distresses. But the manufacturing aristocracy of our age first impoverishes and debases the men who serve it and then abandons them to be supported by the charity of the public.

Despotism may be able to do without religion, but democracy cannot.

The more government takes the place of associations, the more will individuals lose the idea of forming associations and need the government to come to their help. That is a vicious circle of cause and effect.

Americans of all ages, all stations of life, and all types of disposition are forever forming associations. In democratic countries knowledge of how to combine is the mother of all other forms of knowledge; on its progress depends that of all the others.

There is no country in the world where the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America.

Chance does nothing that has not been prepared beforehand.

Men will not receive the truth from their enemies, and it is seldom offered to them by their friends.