I shall rejoin myself to my native country, with new attachments, and with exaggerated esteem for its advantages; for though there is less wealth there, there is more freedom, more ease, and less misery.

The patriot, like the Christian, must learn to bear revilings and persecutions as a part of his duty; and in proportion as the trial is severe, firmness under it becomes more requisite and praiseworthy. It requires, indeed, self-command. But that will be fortified in proportion as the calls for its exercise are repeated.

Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.

When a uniform exercise of kindness to prisoners on our part has been returned by as uniform severity on the part of our enemies,you must excuse me for saying it is high time, by other lessons, to teach respect to the dictates of humanity; in such a case, retaliation becomes an act of benevolence.

They are nations of eternal war. All their energies are expended in the destruction of the labor, property, and lives of their people.

Truth will do well enough if left to shift for herself.

Gouverneur Morris had often told me that General Washington believed no more of that system (Christianity) than did he himself.