Government as well as religion has furnished its schisms, its persecutions and its devices for fattening idleness on the earnings of the people.

The difficulty is no longer to find candidates for the offices, but offices for the candidates.

Every gentleman plays billiards, but someone who plays billiards too well, is no gentleman.

The system of banking have[for]ever reprobated. I contemplate it as a blot left in all our Constitutions, which, if not covered, will end in their destruction, which is already hit by the gamblers in corruption, and is sweeping away in its progress the fortunes and morals of our citizens.

That liberty [is pure] which is to go to all, and not to the few or the rich alone.

Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle.

Never yet could I find that a black had uttered a thought above the level of plain narration; never saw even an elemental trait of painting or sculpture.