Well, Page, I do wish the Devil had old Cooke, for I am sure I never was so tired of an old dull scoundrel in my life ... But the old-fellows say we must read to gain knowledge; and gain knowledge to make us happy and be admired. Mere jargon! Is there any such thing as happiness in this world? No.

The fore horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follow that, and in its turn wretchedness and oppression.

If I had to choose between government and a free press, I would choose a free press.

The relations which exist between man and his Maker, and the duties resulting from those relations, are the most interesting and important to every human being and the most incumbent on his study and investigation.

It is better to tolerate the rare instance of a parent refusing to let his child be educated, than to shock the common feelings and ideas by forcible asportation and education of the infant against the will of the father.

I have great confidence in the common sense of mankind in general.

A morsel of genuine history is a thing so rare as to be always valuable.