The government of the United States of America has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims.

Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases.

Borrowed eloquence, if it contains as good stuff, is as good as own eloquence

It should be your care, therefore, and mine, to elevate the minds of our children and exalt their courage; to accelerate and animate their industry and activity; to excite in them an habitual contempt of meanness, abhorrence of injustice and inhumanity, and an ambition to excel in every capacity, faculty, and virtue. If we suffer their minds to grovel and creep in infancy, they will grovel all their lives.

As good government is an empire of laws, how shall your laws be made? In a large society, inhabiting an extensive country, it is impossible that the whole should assemble to make laws. The first necessary step, then, is to depute power from the many to a few of the most wise and good.

I would quarrel with both parties, and with every individual of each, before I would subjugate my understanding, or prostitute my tongue or pen to either.

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