America... goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all.

A man's diary is a record in youth of his sentiments, in middle age of his actions, in old age of his reflections.

Let us not be unmindful that liberty is power, that the nation blessed with the largest portion of liberty must in proportion to its numbers be the most powerful nation upon earth.

To believe that everyone is honest is folly, but to believe that no one is honest is worse.

It is by a thorough knowledge of the whole subject that [people] are enabled to judge correctly of the past and to give a proper direction to the future.

Civil liberty can be established on no foundation of human reason which will not at the same time demonstrate the right of religious freedom.

Try and fail,but don't fail to try.