There is nothing in the world really beneficial that does not lie within the reach of an informed understanding and a well-protected pursuit.

Freedom without virtue is not freedom but license to pursue whatever passions prevail in the intemperate mind; man's right to freedom being in exact proportion to his willingness to put chains upon his own appetites; the less restraint from within, the more must be imposed from without.

It is undoubtedly the business of ministers very much to consult the inclinations of the people, but they ought to take great care that they do not receive that inclination from the few persons who may happen to approach them.

The moment you abate anything from the full rights of men to each govern himself, and suffer any artificial positive limitation upon those rights, from that moment the whole organization of government becomes a consideration of convenience.

Government is the exercise of all the great qualities of the human mind.

Facts are to the mind what food is to the body.

They never will love where they ought to love, who do not hate where they ought to hate.