Statistical science is indispensable to modern statesmanship. In legislation as in physical science it is beginning to be understood that we can control terrestrial forces only by obeying their laws. The legislator must formulate in his statutes not only the national will, but also those great laws of social life revealed by statistics.

History is constantly repeating itself, making only such changes of programme as the growth of nations and centuries requires.

Real political issues cannot be manufactured by the leaders of political parties, and real ones cannot be evaded by political parties. The real political issues of the day declare themselves, and come out of the depths of that deep which we call public opinion.

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

Heroes did not make our liberties; they but reflected and illustrated them.

[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.

There are some things I am afraid of: I am afraid to do a mean thing.