Ignorance is preferable to error, and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong.

There is not a truth existing which I fear... or would wish unknown to the whole world.

I long to be in the midst of the children, and have more pleasure in their little follies than in the wisdom of the wise.

All power is inherent in the people.

When the course of events shall have removed you to distant scenes of action where laurels not nurtured with the blood of my country may be gathered, I shall urge sincere prayers for your obtaining every honor and preferment which may gladden the heart of a soldier.

It is an axiom in my mind that our liberty can never be safe but in the hands of the people themselves, and that too of the people with a certain degree of instruction. This it is the business of the state to effect, and on a general plan.

It has been thought that the people are not competent electors of judges learned in the law. But I do not know this to be true, and, if doubtful, we should follow principle.