With respect to our State and federal governments, I do not think their relations correctly understood by foreigners. They generally suppose the former subordinate to the latter. But this is not the case. They are co-ordinate departments of one simple and integral whole.

I do most anxiously wish to see the highest degrees of education given to the higher degrees of genius and to all degrees of it, so much as may enable them to read and understand what is going on in the world and to keep their part of it going on right; for nothing can keep it right but their own vigilant and distrustful superintendence.

We are now vibrating between too much and too little government, and the pendulum will rest finally in the middle.

Malice will always find bad motives for good actions. - Shall we therefore never do good?

The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others.

Any woodsman can tell you that in a broken and sundered nest, one can hardly find more than a precious few whole eggs. So it is with the family.

Political interest [can] never be separated in the long run from moral right.