I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master.

Beer, if drank with moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit, and promotes health.

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.

Agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and navigation, the four pillars of our prosperity, are the most thriving when left most free to individual enterprise.

If you have any duty which must be done, and it seems disagreeable, do it promptly and have it over.

When a uniform exercise of kindness to prisoners on our part has been returned by as uniform severity on the part of our enemies,you must excuse me for saying it is high time, by other lessons, to teach respect to the dictates of humanity; in such a case, retaliation becomes an act of benevolence.

It is not the policy of the government in America to give aid to works of any kind. They let things take their natural course without help or impediment, which is generally the best policy.