A desire to be observed, considered, esteemed, praised, beloved, and admired by his fellows is one of the earliest as well as the keenest dispositions discovered in the heart of man.

When I was young, and addicted to reading, I had heard about dancing on the points of metaphysical needles; but, by mixing in the world, I found the points of political needles finer and sharper than the metaphysical ones.

Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society.

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.

In politics the middle way is none at all.

They worry one another like mastiffs, scrambling for rank and pay like apes for nuts.

If "Thou shalt not covet," and "Thou shalt not steal," were not commandments of Heaven, they must be made inviolable precepts in every society, before it can be civilized or made free.