Serious misfortunes, originating in misrepresentation, frequently flow and spread before they can be dissipated by truth.

The best and only safe road to honor, glory, and true dignity is justice.

The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad, of your safety, of your prosperity, of that very liberty which you so highly prize.

To rectify past blunders is impossible, but we might profit by the experience of them.

We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience.

I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy.

The alternate triumphs of different parties ... make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels.