War is an instrument entirely inefficient toward redressing wrong; and multiplies, instead of indemnifying losses.

If our legislature does not heartily push our University [of Virginia] we must send our children for education to Kentucky [Transylvania College] or Cambridge [Harvard College]. The latter will return them to us as fanatics and tories, the former will keep them to add to their population.

I am tired of a life of contention, and of being the personal object for the hatred of every man, who hates the present state of things.

No society can make a perpetual constitution... The earth belongs always to the living generation.

Our part is to pursue with steadiness what is right, turning neither to right nor left for the intrigues or popular delusions of the day, assured that the public approbation will in the end be with us.

I can scarcely contemplate a more incalculable evil than the breaking of the Union into two or more parts.

Ministers and merchants love nobody.