The plough is to the farmer what the wand is to the sorcerer. Its effect is really like sorcery.

A judiciary independent of a king or executive alone, is a good thing; but independence of the will of the nation is a solecism, at least in a republican government.

Nothing but good can result from an exchange of information and opinions between those whose circumstances and morals admit no doubt of the integrity of their views.

Ignorance is preferable to error, and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong.

Big banks are more dangerous than standing armies, and the practice of borrowing and spending money to be paid back by the next generation is stealing from their future.

A truth now and then projecting into the ocean of newspaper lies serves like headlands to correct our course. Indeed, my scepticism as to everything I see in a newspaper makes me indifferent whether I ever see one.

If you have any duty which must be done, and it seems disagreeable, do it promptly and have it over.