With all the defects in our Constitution, whether general or particular, the comparison of our government with those of Europe, is like a comparison of Heaven with Hell. England, like the earth, may be allowed to take the intermediate station.

Truth and reason are eternal. They have prevailed. And they will eternally prevail; however, in times and places they may be overborne for a while by violence, military, civil, or ecclesiastical.

Do not bite at the bait of pleasure, till you know there is no hook beneath it.

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.

A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.

If I am to meet with a disappointment, the sooner I know it, the more of life I shall have to wear it off.

A mind always employed is always happy.