During the course of administration, and in order to disturb it, the artillery of the press has been levelled against us, charged with whatsoever its licentiousness could devise or dare. These abuses of an institution so important to freedom and science are deeply to be regretted, inasmuch as they tend to lessen its usefulness and to sap its safety.

The true foundation of republican government is the equal right of every citizen in his person and property and in their management.

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government.

No country and no people can be free and ignorant at the same time.

Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity. It is the mere Abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of Jesus.

My heart trembles when I reflect that God is just

The natural cause of the human mind is certainly from credulity to skepticism.