No man can mortgage his injustice as a pawn for his fidelity.

Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver; and adulation is not of more service to the people than to kings.

But a good patriot, and a true politician, always considers how he shall make the most of the existing materials of his country. A disposition, to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman. Everything else is vulgar in the conception, perilous in the execution.

All the forces of darkness need to succeed ... is for the people to do nothing.

In their nomination to office they will not appoint to the exercise of authority as to a pitiful job, but as to a holy function.

All those instances to be found in history, whether real or fabulous, of a doubtful public spirit, at which morality is perplexed, reason is staggered, and from which affrighted Nature recoils, are their chosen and almost sole examples for the instruction of their youth.

Wars are just to those to whom they are necessary.