A government cannot be wrong in punishing fraud or force, but it is almost certain to be wrong if, abandoning its legitimate function, it tells private individuals that it knows their business better than they know it themselves.

Knowledge advances by steps, and not by leaps.

The whole history of Christianity proves that she has little indeed to fear from persecution as a foe, but much to fear from persecution as an ally.

A page digested is better than a volume hurriedly read.

Our estimate of a character always depends much on the manner in which that character affects our own interests and passions.

It has often been found that profuse expenditures, heavy taxation, absurd commercial restrictions, corrupt tribunals, disastrous wars, seditions, persecutions, conflagrations, inundation, have not been able to destroy capital so fast as the exertions of private citizens have been able to create it.

With respect to the doctrine of a future life, a North American Indian knows just as much as any ancient or modern philosopher.