Secrecy, being an instrument of conspiracy, ought never to be the system of a regular government.

The question is not can animals speak but can they suffer.

Natural rights is simple nonsense: natural and imprescriptible rights, rhetorical nonsense—nonsense upon stilts.

Publicity is the very soul of justice. It is the keenest spur to exertion, and the surest of all guards against improbity.

Stretching his hand up to reach the stars, too often man forgets the flowers at his feet.

Without publicity, no good is permanent; under the auspices of publicity, no evil can continue.

We may scatter the seeds of courtesy and kindness about us at little expense. Some of them will fall on good ground, and grow up into benevolence in the minds of others, and all of them will bear fruit of happiness in the bosom whence they spring.