Of all the enemies of public liberty, war is perhaps the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other.

It degrades from the equal rank of Citizens all those whose opinions in Religion do not bend to those of the Legislative authority. Distant as it may be in its present form from the Inquisition, it differs from it only in degree.

Armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few.

[Y]ou will understand the game behind the curtain too well not to perceive the old trick of turning every contingency into a resource for accumulating force in the government.

[N]o religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

The better proof of reverence for that holy name would be not to profane it by making it a topic of legislative discussion.

Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.