No human government has a right to enquire into private opinions, to presume that it knows them, or to act on that presumption. Men are the best judges of the consequences of their own opinions, and how far they are likely to influence their actions; and it is most unnatural and tyrannical to say, "as you think, so must you act. I will collect the evidence of your future conduct from what I know to be your opinions."

No human government has a right to enquire into private opinions, to presume that it knows them, or to act on that presumption. Men are the best judges of the consequences of their own opinions, and how far they are likely to influence their actions; and it is most unnatural and tyrannical to say, "as you think, so must you act. I will collect the evidence of your future conduct from what I know to be your opinions."

Men are entitled to equal rights-but to equal rights to unequal things.

All political power is a trust.

Illustrious man! deriving honor less from the splendor of his situation than from the dignity of his mind.

Kings govern by popular assemblies only when they cannot do without them.

I prefer the hardest terms of peace to the most just war.