Even the law of gravitation would be brought into dispute were there a pecuniary interest involved.

Free trade, one of the greatest blessings which a government can confer on a people, is in almost every country unpopular.

Logicians may reason about abstractions. But the great mass of men must have images. The strong tendency of the multitude in all ages and nations to idolatry can be explained on no other principle.

But the time will come when New England will be as thickly peopled as old England. Wages will be as low, and will fluctuate as much with you as with us. You will have your Manchesters and Birminghams; and, in those Manchesters and Birminghams, hundreds of thousands of artisans will assuredly be sometimes out of work. Then your institutions will be fairly brought to the test.

Men are never so likely to settle a question rightly as when they discuss it freely.

A few more years will destroy whatever yet remains of that magical potency which once belonged to the name of Byron.

Facts are the mere dross of history. It is from the abstract truth which interpenetrates them, and lies latent among them, like gold in the ore, that the mass derives its whole value; and the precious particles are generally combined with the baser in such a manner that the separation is a task of the utmost difficulty.