The natural aristocracy I consider as the most precious gift of nature for the instruction, the trusts, and government of society. And indeed it would have been inconsistent in creation to have formed man for the social state, and not to have provided virtue and wisdom enough to manage the concerns of the society. May we not even say that that form of government is the best which provides the most - for a pure selection of these natural aristoi into the offices of government?

Those are governed best who are governed least.

My confidence is that there will for a long time be virtue and good sense enough in our countrymen to correct abuses.

He [Washington] has often declared to me that he considered our new constitution as an experiment on the practicability of republican government, and with what dose of liberty man could be trusted for his own good; that he was determined the experiment should have a fair trial, and would lose the last drop of his blood in support of it. And these declarations he repeated to me the oftener and the more pointedly.

Truth is certainly a branch of morality and a very important one to society.

The Constitution is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any form they please.

People generally have more feeling for canals and roads than education. However, I hope we can advance them with equal pace.