In a democracy the majority of citizens is capable of exercising the most cruel oppressions upon the minority...and that oppression of the majority will extend to far great number, and will be carried on with much greater fury, than can almost ever be apprehended from the dominion of a single sceptre. Under a cruel prince they have the plaudits of the people to animate their generous constancy under their sufferings; but those who are subjected to wrong under multitudes are deprived of all external consolation: they seem deserted by mankind, overpowered by a conspiracy of their whole species.

The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.

A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman.

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

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

Restraint and discipline and examples of virtue and justice. These are the things that form the education of the world.

In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution of our country with our dearest domestic ties; adopting our fundamental laws into the bosom of our family affections; keeping inseparable and cherishing with the warmth of all their combined and mutually reflected charities, our state, our hearths, our sepulchres, and our altars.