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.

The perfection of conversation is not to play a regular sonata, but, like the AEolian harp, to await the inspiration of the passing breeze.

Great men are the guideposts and landmarks in the state.

It is better to cherish virtue and humanity, by leaving much to free will, even with some loss of the object , than to attempt to make men mere machines and instruments of political benevolence. The world on the whole will gain by a liberty, without which virtue cannot exist.

The hottest fires in hell are reserved for those who remain neutral in times of moral crisis.

When slavery is established in any part of the world, those who are free are by far the most proud and jealous of their freedom.

Party is a body of men united, for promoting by their joint endeavours the national interest, upon some particular principle in which they are all agreed.