I believe from what I have lately seen that we should be substantially safe were our Citizens Armed, but we have not as many Arms as we have Enemies in the State.

No man has greater confidence than I have in the spirit of the people, to a rational extent. Whatever they can, they will.

Every man has two countries: his own and France.

I deplore with you the putrid state into which our newspapers have passed, and the malignity, the vulgarity, and mendacious spirit of those who write for them. ... This has in a great degree been produced by the violence and malignity of party spirit.

It is not by the consolidation or concentration of powers but by their distribution that good government is effected.

The clergy converted the simple teachings of Jesus into an engine for enslaving mankind and adulterated by artificial constructions into a contrivance to filch wealth and power to themselves...these clergy, in fact, constitute the real Anti-Christ.

To the corruptions of Christianity I am indeed opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself.