When all government ...in little as in great things... shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power; it will render powerless the checks provided of one government on another, and will become as venal and oppressive as the government from which we separated.

They are exactly the persons who are to succeed to the government of our country and to rule its future enmities, its friendships and fortunes.

I was dupedby the Secretary of the treasury [Alexander Hamilton], and made a fool for forwarding his schemes, not then sufficiently understood by me; and of all the errors of my political life, this has occasioned the deepest regret.

The patriot, like the Christian, must learn to bear revilings and persecutions as a part of his duty; and in proportion as the trial is severe, firmness under it becomes more requisite and praiseworthy. It requires, indeed, self-command. But that will be fortified in proportion as the calls for its exercise are repeated.

Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.

ONLY a government that is AFRAID of its citizens tries to control them.

From the nature of things, every society must at all times possess within itself the sovereign powers of legislation.