The Christian god is a being of terrific character - cruel, vindictive, capricious and unjust.

Too old to plant trees for my own gratification, I shall do it for my posterity.

Our legislators are not sufficiently apprized of the rightful limits of their power; that their true office is to declare and enforce only our natural rights and duties, and to take none of them from us.

We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.

Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear their leading you out of [any difficult situation] in the easiest manner possible.

The Giver of life gave it for happiness and not for wretchedness.

A professorship of Theology should have no place in our institution [the University of Virginia]