The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they pass unobserved.

It is impossible to reason without arriving at a Supreme Being. Religion is as necessary to reason, as reason is to religion.

War - An act of violence whose object is to constrain the enemy, to accomplish our will.

In disputes, be not so desirous to overcome as to not give liberty to each one to deliver his opinion and submit to the judgment of the major part, especially if they are judges of the dispute.

The power under the Constitution will always be in the people. It is entrusted for certain defined purposes, and for a certain limited period, to representatives of their own choosing; and whenever it is executed contrary to their interest, or not agreeable to their wishes, their servants can, and undoubtedly will, be recalled.

Patience is a noble virtue, and, when rightly exercised, does not fail of its reward.

I go to the chair of government with feelings not unlike those of a culprit who is going to the place of his execution.