A little rebellion now and then is a good thing. Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. In order to flourish, the tree of Liberty needs the blood of patriots and tyrants.

Reading, reflection and time have convinced me that the interests of society require the observation of those moral precepts only in which all religions agree (for all forbid us to steal, murder, plunder, or bear false witness), and that we should not intermeddle with the particular dogmas in which all religions differ, and which are totally unconnected with morality.

The genuine and simple religion of Jesus will one day be restored: such as it was preached and practiced by Himself.

The evils of war are great in their endurance, and have a long reckoning for ages to come.

Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.

I set out on this ground, which I suppose to be self evident, "that the earth belongs in usufruct to the living": that the dead have neither powers nor rights over it.

Cultivators of the earth are the most virtuous and independent citizens.