In countries where associations are free, secret societies are unknown. In America there are factions, but no conspiracies.

Nothing is more wonderful than the art of being free, but nothing is harder to learn how to use than freedom.

The happy and powerful do not go into exile, and there are no surer guarantees of equality among men than poverty and misfortune.

The progress of democracy seems irresistible, because it is the most uniform, the most ancient and the most permanent tendency which is to be found in history.

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

As I see it, only God can be all-powerful without danger, because his wisdom and justice are always equal to his power. Thus there is no authority on earth so inherently worthy of respect, or invested with a right so sacred, that I would want to let it act without oversight or rule without impediment (p. 290).

I have always thought it rather interesting to follow the involuntary movements of fear in clever people. Fools coarsely display their cowardice in all its nakedness, but the others are able to cover it with a veil so delicate, so daintily woven with small plausible lies, that there is some pleasure to be found in contemplating this ingenious work of the human intelligence.