I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.

No other depositories of power [but the people themselves] have ever yet been found, which did not end in converting to their own profit the earnings of those committed to their charge.

Power is not alluring to pure minds.

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.

Newspapers . . . serve as chimnies to carry off noxious vapors and smoke.

Truth is great and will prevail if left to herself.

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