The fundamental article of my political creed is that despotism, or limited sovereignty, or absolute power is the same [whether] in a majority of a popular assembly; an aristocratic council; or oligarchical junto and a single emperor - equally arbitrary, cruel, bloody and in every respect diabolical.

The United States is not a Christian nation any more than it is a Jewish or a Mohammedan nation.

Indeed, Mr. Jefferson, what could be invented to debase the ancient Christianism, which Greeks, Romans, Hebrews and Christian factions, above all the Catholics, have not fraudulently imposed upon the public? Miracles after miracles have rolled down in torrents, wave succeeding wave in the Catholic church, from the Council of Nicea, and long before, to this day.

Education makes a greater difference between man and man than nature has made between man and brute.

There are two ways to conquer and enslave a country. One is by the sword. The other is by debt.

Have you ever found in history, one single example of a nation, thoroughly corrupted, that was afterwards restored to virtue? And without virtue there can be no political liberty.

The right of a nation to kill a tyrant in case of necessity can no more be doubted than to hang a robber, or kill a flea.