We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It should be our endeavor to cultivate the peace and friendship of every nation . . . . Our interest will be to throw open the doors of commerce, and to knock off all its shackles, giving perfect freedom to all persons for the vent to whatever they may choose to bring into our ports, and asking the same in theirs.

Independence can be trusted nowhere but with the people in mass. They are inherently independent of all but moral law.

Were parties here divided merely by a greediness for office,...to take a part with either would be unworthy of a reasonable or moral man.

A democratic society depends upon an informed and educated citizenry.

Take more pleasure in giving what is best to another than in having it for yourself, and then all the world will love you.

It's only merit was in being the first publication which carried the claim of our rights their whole length, and asserted that there was no rightful link of connection between us and England but that of being under the same king.