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

It is as useless to argue with those who have renounced the use of reason as to administer medication to the dead.

Taxes should be proportioned to what may be annually spared by the individual.

A little rebellion now and then... is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government.

Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes. 2. Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise depositary of the public interests. In every country these two parties exist, and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves.

Speeches that are measured by the hour will die with the hour.

Equal rights for all, special privileges for none