Ignorance and bigotry, like other insanities, are incapable of self-government.

No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another; and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain him.

I have never conceived that having been in public life required me to belie my sentiments, or to conceal them. Opinion and the just maintenance of it shall never be a crime in my view, nor bring injury on the individual. I never will by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance. I never had an opinion in politics or religion which I was afraid to own; a reserve on these subjects might have procured me more esteem from some people, but less from myself.

Nobody can acquire honor by doing what is wrong.

"It astonishes me to find... [that so many] of our countrymen... should be contented to live under a system which leaves to their governors the power of taking from them the trial by jury in civil cases, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of commerce, the habeas corpus laws, and of yoking them with a standing army. This is a degeneracy in the principles of liberty... which I [would not have expected for at least] four centuries."

I shall need, too, the favor of that Being in whose hands we are, who led our forefathers, as Israel of old.

When earth is rich it bids defiance to droughts, yields in abundance and of the best quality.