To give liberty to a slave before he understands its value is, perhaps, rather to impose a penalty than to bestow a blessing.

Persecution for opinion is the master vice of society.

Credulity is always a ridiculous, often a dangerous failing: it has made of many a clever man, a fool; and of many a good man, a knave.

... the happiness of a people is the only rational object of government, and the only object for which a people, free to choose, can have a government at all.

Love of power more frequently originates in vanity than pride (two qualities, by the way, which are often confounded) and is, consequently, yet more peculiarly the sin of little than of great minds.

To give liberty to a slave before he understands its value is, perhaps, rather to impose a penalty than to bestow a blessing.

Opinions are not to be learned by rote, like the letters of an alphabet, or the words of a dictionary. They are conclusions to be formed, and formed by each individual in the sacred and free citadel of the mind, and there enshrined beyond the arm of law to reach, or force to shake; ay! and beyond the right of impertinent curiosity to violate, or presumptuous arrogance to threaten.