The most favourable laws can do very little towards the happiness of people when the disposition of the ruling power is adverse to them.

Fraud is the ready minister of injustice.

My hold of the colonies is in the close affection which grows from common names, from kindred blood, from similar privileges, and equal protection. These are ties which, though light as air, are as strong as links of iron.

When you fear something, learn as much about it as you can. Knowledge conquers fear.

Nothing is so rash as fear; and the counsels of pusillanimity very rarely put off, whilst they are always sure to aggravate, the evils from which they would fly.

There is a courageous wisdom; there is also a false, reptile prudence, the result not of caution but of fear.

If you can be well without health, you may be happy without virtue.