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

The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.

I had rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.

[T]here is no truth more thoroughly established, than that there exists . . . an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness.

Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your reputation. Be not apt to relate news, if you know not the truth thereof. Speak no evil of the absent, for it is unjust. Undertake not what you cannot perform, but be careful to keep your promise. There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth, and pursue it steadily. Nothing but harmony, honesty, industry and frugality are necessary to make us a great and happy nation.

One of the difficulties in bringing about change in an organization is that you must do so through the persons who have been most successful in that organization, no matter how faulty the system or the organization is. To such persons, you see, it is the best of all possible organizations, because look who was selected by it ad look who succeeded most in it. Yet, these are the very people through whom we must bring about improvements.

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