I have long been settled in my own opinion that neither Philosophy, nor Religion, nor Morality, nor Wisdom, nor Interest, will ever govern nations or Parties, against their vanity, their Pride, their Resentment, or Revenge, or their Avarice, or Ambition. Nothing but Force and Power and Strength can restrain them.

The destiny of America is to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ to all men everywhere.

The numbers of men in all ages have preferred ease, slumber, and good cheer to liberty, when they have been in competition.

Thus, experience has ever shown, that education, as well as religion, aristocracy, as well as democracy and monarchy, are, singly, totally inadequate to the business of restraining the passions of men, of preserving a steady government, and protecting the lives, liberties, and properties of the people . . . . Religion, superstition, oaths, education, laws, all give way before passions, interest, and power, which can be resisted only by passions, interest, and power.

Human passions unbridled by morality and religion...would break the stronges cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net.

Ideology is the science of idiots.

The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws.