I consider a decent respect for Christianity among the best recommendations for public service.

Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics. There must be a positive passion for the public good, the public interest, honour, power and glory, established in the minds of the people, or there can be no republican government, nor any real liberty: and this public passion must be superiour to all private passions.

Let frugality and industry be our virtues.

Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it.

If my superiors shall permit me to come home, I hope it will be soon; if they mean I should stay abroad, I am not able to say what I shall do, until I know in what capacity. One thing is certain, that I will not live long without my family.

Old minds are like old horses; you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order.

I do not like the reappearance of the Jesuits... Nevertheless, we are compelled by our system of religious toleration to offer them an asylum.