There is not a sprig of grass that shoots uninteresting to me.

The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.

The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases.

It may be regarded as certain that not a foot of land will ever be taken from the Indians without their own consent.

I have ever deemed it fundamental for the United States never to take active part in the quarrels of Europe.... They are nations of eternal war.

Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction.

The power of making war often prevents it.