We can not guarantee success, we can strive to deserve it.

Happiness depends more upon the internal frame of a person’s own mind, than on the externals in the world.

Human rights can only be assured among a virtuous people. The general government . . . can never be in danger of degenerating into a monarchy, an oligarchy, an aristocracy, or any despotic or oppresive form so long as there is any virtue in the body of the people.

I commend you, however, for passing the time in as merry a manner as you possibly could; it is assuredly better to go laughing than crying thro' the rough journey of life.

Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government.

A half-starved limping government, always moving upon crutches and tottering at every step.

The Constitution which at any time exists, 'till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole People is sacredly obligatory upon all.