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

Congress has scarcely any thing to employ them, and complain that the place [Washington, D.C.] is remarkably dull.

I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.

Although we are free by the law, we are not so in practice.

It is proof of sincerity, which I value above all things; as, between those who practice it, falsehood and malice work their efforts in vain.

not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of . . . but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent, and to justify ourselves in the independent stand we are compelled to take.

Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading. I will rather say more necessary because health is worth more than learning.