The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves.

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

[death]...the abyss from where no traveler is permitted to return

At my age, and in my circumstances, what sinister object, or personal emolument had I to seek after, in this life? The growing infirmities of age and the increasing love of retirement, daily confirm my decided predilection for domestic life: and the great Searcher of human hearts is my witness, that I have no wish, which aspires beyond the humble and happy lot of living and dying a private citizen on my own farm.

One of the expedients of party to acquire influence, within particular districts, is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts. You cannot shield yourselves too much against the jealousies and heart-burnings, which spring from these misrepresentations; they tend to render alien to each other those, who ought to be bound together by fraternal affection.

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

Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself.