The excellence of every government is its adaptation to the state of those to be governed by it.

I own that I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive.

We ought not to schismatize on either men or measures. Principles alone can justify that.

If thinking men would have the courage to think for themselves, and to speak what they think, it would be found they do not differ in religious opinions as much as is supposed.

Everything yields to diligence.

[F]alsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good dispositions.

It is to secure our rights that we resort to government at all.