Government is being founded on opinion, the opinion of the public, even when it is wrong, ought to be respected to a certain degree.

I deem it the duty of every man to devote a certain portion of his income for charitable purposes; and that it is his further duty to see it so applied and to do the most good for which it is capable.

A professorship of Theology should have no place in our institution [the University of Virginia]

The only security of all is in a free press.

Democrats consider the people as the safest depository of power in the last resort; they cherish them, therefore, and wish to leave in them all the powers to the exercise of which they are competent.

The liberty of speaking and writing guards our other liberties.

No government can be maintained without the principle of fear as well as duty. Good men will obey the last, but bad ones the former only. If our government ever fails, it will be from this weakness.