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

It is by imitation, far more than by precept, that we learn everything; and what we learn thus, we acquire not only more effectually, but more pleasantly.

There is a time when the hoary head of inveterate abuse will neither draw reverence nor obtain protection.

All virtue which is impracticable is spurious.

Crimes lead into one another. They who are capable of being forgers, are capable of being incendiaries.

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.

If the prudence of reserve and decorum dictates silence in some circumstances, in others prudence of a higher order may justify us in speaking our thoughts.