The divine science of government is the science of social happiness, and the blessings of society depend entirely on the constitutions of government.

The only way to form an army to be confided in, was a systematic discipline, by which means all men may be made heroes.

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.

Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics.

[J]udges, therefore, should be always men of learning and experience in the laws, of exemplary morals, great patience, calmness, coolness, and attention. Their minds should not be distracted with jarring interests; they should not be dependent upon any man, or body of men.

Have you considered that system of holy lies and pious frauds that has raged and triumphed for 1,500 years?

All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arise, not from defects in their Constitution or Confederation, not from want of honor or virtue, so much as from the downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit and circulation.