The reason that Christianity is the best friend of government is because Christianity is the only religion that changes the heart.

The Greeks by their laws, and the Romans by the spirit of their people, took care to put into the hands of their rulers no such engine of oppression as a standing army. Their system was to make every man a soldier, and oblige him to repair to the standard of his country whenever that was reared. This made them invincible; and the same remedy will make us so.

Never throw off the best affections of nature in the moment when they become most precious to their object; nor fear to extend you hand to save another, lest you should sink yourself.

Difficulties indeed sometimes arise; but common sense and honest intentions will generally steer through them.

Experience having long taught me the reasonableness of mutual sacrifices of opinion among those who are to act together for any common object, and the expediency of doing what good we can; when we cannot do all we would wish.

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

Honesty and interest are as intimately connected in the public as in the private code of morality.