That the enthusiasm which characterizes youth should lift its parricide hands against freedom and science would be such a monstrous phenomenon as I cannot place among possible things in this age and country.

He alone who walks strict and upright, and who, in matters of opinion, will be contented that others should be as free as himself and acquiesce when his opinion is freely overruled, will attain his object in the end.

If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed.

Ministers and merchants love nobody.

Some other natural rights... [have] not yet entered into any declaration of rights.

The contradictory experiments of chemists leave us at liberty to conclude what we please. My conclusion is, that art has not yet invented sufficient aids to enable such subtle bodies [air, light, &c.] to make a well-defined impression on organs as blunt as ours; that it is laudable to encourage investigation but to hold back conclusion.

The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object.