I trust there is not a young man now living in the United States who will not die a Unitarian.

Man, once surrendering his reason, has no remaining guard against absurdities the most monstrous. . . .

I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude

I steer my bark with hope in the head, leaving fear astern. My hopes indeed sometimes fail, but not oftener than the forebodings of the gloomy.

Public employment contributes neither to advantage nor happiness. It is but honorable exile from one's family and affairs.

No knowledge can be more satisfactory to a man than that of his own frame, its parts, their functions and actions.

Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error... They are the natural enemies of error, and of error only... If [free enquiry] be restrained now, the present corruptions will be protected, and new ones encouraged.