The ordinary affairs of a nation offer little difficulty to a person of any experience.

With earnest prayers to all my friends to cherish mutual good will, to promote harmony and conciliation, and above all things to let the love of our country soar above all minor passions, I tender you the assurance of my affectionate esteem and respect.

The right to use a thing comprehends a right to the means necessary to its use, and without which it would be useless.

I do verily believe that a single, consolidated government would become the most corrupt government on the earth.

When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.

What has destroyed liberty and the rights of man in every government which has ever existed under the sun? The generalizing and concentrating all cares and power into one body, no matter whether of the autocrats of Russia or France, or of the aristocrats of a Venetian senate.

Malice will always find bad motives for good actions. - Shall we therefore never do good?