I see no comfort in outliving one's friends, and remaining a mere monument of the times which are past.

The execution of the laws is more important than the making of them.

It is always better to have no ideas than false ones; to believe nothing, than to believe what is wrong.

Resort is had to ridicule only when reason is against us.

Men of high learning and abilities are few in every country; and by taking in those who are not so, the able part of the body have their hands tied by the unable.

A rigid economy of the public contributions and absolute interdiction of all useless expenses will go far towards keeping the government honest and unoppressive.

When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.