What is merit? The opinion one man entertains of another.

Large republics seem to be essentially and inherently aggressive.

We have no permanent allies, only permanent interests.

Dirt is matter in the wrong place.

What is merit? The opinion one man entertains of another.

Half the wrong conclusions at which mankind arrive are reached by the abuse of metaphors, and by mistaking general resemblance or imaginary similarity for real identity.

We have no eternal allies, and we have not perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow.