Force is the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism.

The authors of the gospels were unlettered and ignorant men and the teachings of Jesus have come to us mutilated, misstated and unintelligible.

I own that I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive.

He who knows best knows how little he knows.

Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle... Perhaps an editor might begin a reformation in some such way as this. Divide his paper into four chapters, heading the 1st, Truths. 2d, Probabilities. 3d, Possibilities. 4th, Lies. The first chapter would be very short.

Everything is useful which contributes to fix the principles and practices of virtue.

Most men die at age 25, but aren't buried until 70.