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

Like a young heir, come a little prematurely to a large inheritance, we shall wanton and run riot until we have brought our reputation to the brink of ruin, and then, like him, shall have to labor with the current of opinion, when COMPELLED perhaps, to do what prudence and common policy pointed out, as plain as any problem in Euclid, in the first instance.

No taxes can be devised which are not more or less inconvenient and unpleasant.

..the establishment of Civil and Religious Liberty was the Motive that induced me to the field of battle.

We must take human nature as we find it, perfection falls not to the share of mortals.

A man's intentions should be allowed in some respects to plead for his actions.

I never say anything of a man that I have the smallest scruple of saying to him.