Men seldom take the opinion of their equal, or of a man like themselves, upon trust.

[R]eligion cannot share the material strength of the rulers without being burdened with some of the animosity roused against them.

The aspect of American society is animated, because men and things are always changing; but it is monotonous, because all the changes are alike.

In the United States, associations are established to promote the public safety, commerce, industry, morality, and religion. There is no end which the human will despairs of attaining through the combined power of individuals united into a society.

Society is endangered not by the great profligacy of a few, but by the laxity of morals amongst all.

[Liberty] considers religion as the safeguard of morality, and morality as the best security of law and the surest pledge of the duration of freedom.

The first who attracts the eye, the first in enlightenment, in power and in happiness, is the white man, the European, man par excellence; below him appear the Negro and the Indian. These two unfortunate races have neither birth, nor face, nor language, nor mores in common; only their misfortunes look alike. Both occupy an equally inferior position in the country that they inhabit; both experience the effects of tyranny; and if their miseries are different, they can accuse the same author for them.