To seek out the best [persons to serve in the government] though the whole Union, we must resort to the information which from the best of men, acting disinterestedly and with ther purest motives, is something incorrect....No duty the Executive had to perform was so trying as to put the right man in the right place.

It is my disposition to maintain peace until its condition shall be made less tolerable than that of war itself.

Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far.

Truth will do well enough if left to shift for herself.

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it.

The world is indebted for all triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity over error and oppression.

Every Christian sect gives a great handle to Atheism by their general dogma that, without a revelation, there would not be sufficient proof of the being of god.