The most important thought that ever occupied my mind is that of my individual responsibility to God.

It is, Sir, as I have said, a small College, And yet, there are those who love it.

I thank God, that if I am gifted with little of the spirit which is able to raise mortals to the skies, I have yet none, as I trust, of that other spirit which would drag angels down.

I was born an American; I will live an American; I shall die an American.

Lastly, our ancestors established their system of government on morality and religious sentiment. Moral habits, they believed, cannot safely be trusted on any other foundation than religious principle, nor any government be secure which is not supported by moral habits.... Whatever makes men good Christians, makes them good citizens.

Thank God, I also am an American!

Our destruction, should it come at all, will be from...the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government, from their carelessness and negligence.