It is surely time for men to think for themselves, and to throw off the authority of names so artificially magnified.

History by apprising them [the people] of the past will enable them to judge of the future. . . . It will qualify them as judges of the actions and designs of men: it will enable them to know ambition under every disguise it may assume; and knowing it, to defeat its views.

That paper money has some advantages is admitted. But that its abuses also are inevitable and, by breaking up the measure of value, makes a lottery of all private property, cannot be denied.

We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.

Principle will, in... most... cases open the way for us to correct conclusion.

Self-love . . . is the sole antagonist of virtue, leading us constantly by our propensities to self-gratification in violation of our moral duties to others.

I pledge undying hostility to any government restrictions on the free minds of the people.