Taxes should be continued by annual or biennial reeactments, because a constant hold, by the nation, of the strings of the public purse is a salutary restraint from which an honest government ought not wish, nor a corrupt one to be permitted, to be free.

The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.

Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains.

The evils which of necessity encompass the life of man are sufficiently numerous. Why should we add to them by voluntarily distressing and destroying one another? Peace, brothers, is better than war. In a long and bloody war, we lose many friends, and gain nothing. Let us then live in peace and friendship together, doing to each other all the good we can.

Governments constantly choose between telling lies and fighting wars, with the end result always being the same. One will always lead to the other.

Freedom, the first-born of science.

If your letters are as long as the bible, they will appear short to me. Only let them be brim full of affection.