In these sentiments, sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government, but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered; and believe further, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other.

Human happiness comes not from infrequent pieces of good fortune, but from the small improvements to daily life.

A fine genius in his own country is like gold in the mine.

The things of this world take up too much of my time, of which indeed I have too little left, to undertake anything like a reformation in religion.

It is a grand mistake to think of being great without goodness and I pronounce it as certain that there was never a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous.

When confronted with two courses of action I jot down on a piece of paper all the arguments in favor of each one, then on the opposite side I write the arguments against each one. Then by weighing the arguments pro and con and cancelling them out, one against the other, I take the course indicated by what remains.

Let every one ascertain his special business and calling, and then stick to it if he wants to be successful.