music, drawing, books, invention & exercise will be so many resources to you against ennui.

I have overlived the generation with which mutual labors & perils begat mutual confidence and influence.

The example of changing a constitution by assembling the wise men of the state, instead of assembling armies, will be worth as much to the world as the former examples we had give them. The constitution, too, which was the result of our deliberation, is unquestionably the wisest ever yet presented to men.

A private central bank issuing the public currency is a greater menace to the liberties of the people than a standing army. We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.

If I could not go to Heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all.

I believe the states can best govern our home concerns, and the general government our foreign ones.

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