I had heard my father say that he never knew a piece of land run away or break.

Arms in the hands of citizens may be used at individual discretion... in private self-defense.

Public business must always be done by somebody. It will be done by somebody or other. If wise man decline, others will not; if honest man refuse it, others will not.

Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.

It is weakness rather than wickedness which renders men unfit to be trusted with unlimited power.

This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it.

When legislature is corrupted, the people are undone.