To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.

Still less, let it be proposed that our properties within our own territories shall be taxed or regulated by any power on earth but our own. The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time: the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them.

[The purpose of a written constitution is] to bind up the several branches of government by certain laws, which, when they transgress, their acts shall become nullities; to render unnecessary an appeal to the people, or in other words a rebellion, on every infraction of their rights, on the peril that their acquiescence shall be construed into an intention to surrender those rights.

...in war, they will kill some of us; we shall destroy all of them

They are exactly the persons who are to succeed to the government of our country and to rule its future enmities, its friendships and fortunes.

Knowledge indeed is a desirable, a lovely possession.

The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.