Of course, there are dangers in religious freedom and freedom of opinion. But to deny these rights is worse than dangerous, it is absolutely fatal to liberty. The external threat to liberty should not drive us into suppressing liberty at home. Those who want the government to regulate matters of the mind and spirit are like men who are so afraid of being murdered that they commit suicide to avoid assassination.

The difficulty with businessmen entering politics, after they've had a successful business career, is that they want to start at the top.

The United States should not under any circumstances throw away our gun until we are sure the rest of the world cannot arm against us.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were political enemies, but they became fast friends. And when they passed away on the same day, the last words of one of them was, The country is safe. Jefferson still lives. And the last words of the other was, John Adams will see that things go forward.

In the long view, no nation is any healthier than its children.

Whenever a fellow tells me he's bipartisan, I know he's going to vote against me.

When even one American - who has done nothing wrong - is forced by fear to shut his mind and close his mouth - then all Americans are in peril.