[I] never understood [what a republican government was and] I believe no other man ever did or ever will.

Admire and adore the Author of the telescopic universe, love and esteem the work, do all in your power to lessen ill, and increase good, but never assume to comprehend.

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

Tom, had you and I been 40 days with Moses, and beheld the great God, and even if God himself had tried to tell us that three was one ... and one equals three, you and I would never have believed it. We would never fall victims to such lies.

Suppose a nation, rich and poor, high and low, ten millions in number, all assembled together; not more than one or two millions will have lands, houses, or any personal property; if we take into the account the women and children, or even if we leave them out of the question, a great majority of every nation is wholly destitute of property, except a small quantity of clothes, and a few trifles of other movables.

Let the human mind loose. It must be loose. It will be loose. Superstition and dogmatism cannot confine it.

There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.