I have seen the sea lashed into fury and tossed into spray, and its grandeur moves the soul of the dullest man; but I remember that it is not the billows, but the calm level of the sea from which all heights and depths are measured.

A brave man is a man who dares to look the Devil in the face and tell him he is a Devil.

[I]t would be unjust to our people and dangerous to our institutions to apply any portion of revenues of the nation or of the States to the support of sectarian schools.

Right reason is stronger than force.

The separation of Church and State in everything relating to taxation should be absolute.

Of course I deprecate war, but if it is brought to my door the bringer will find me at home.

The best system of education is that which draws its chief support from the voluntary effort of the community, from the individual efforts of citizens, and from those burdens of taxation which they voluntarily impose upon themselves.