All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view. The palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of god. These are grounds of hope for others. For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.

An elective despotism was not the government we fought for.

No knowledge can be more satisfactory to a man than that of his own frame, its parts, their functions and actions.

The people are the ultimate guardians of their own liberties. In every government on earth is some trace of human weakness, some germ of corruption and degeneracy . . . Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone.

We are completely saddled and bridled, and... the bank is so firmly mounted on us that we must go where it will guide.

Health, learning and virtue will ensure your happiness; they will give you a quiet conscience, private esteem and public honour.

My general plan would be to make the States one as to everything connected with foreign nations and several as to everything purely domestic.