The soil is the gift of God to the living.

God has formed us moral agents... that we may promote the happiness of those with whom He has placed us in society, by acting honestly towards all, benevolently to those who fall within our way, respecting sacredly their rights, bodily and mental, and cherishing especially their freedom of conscience, as we value our own.

There is not one redeeming feature in our superstition of Christianity. It has made one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites.

The clergy believe that any power confided in me will be exerted in opposition to their schemes, and they believe rightly.

Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains, rather than do an immoral act.

Believing that the happiness of mankind is best promoted by the useful pursuits of peace, that on these alone a stable prosperity can be founded, that the evils of war are great in their endurance, and have a long reckoning for ages to come, I have used my best endeavors to keep our country uncommitted in the troubles which afflict Europe, and which assail us on every side.

Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.