The people, especially when moderately instructed, are the only safe, because the only honest, depositaries of the public rights, and should therefore be introduced into the administration of them in every function to which they are sufficient; they will err sometimes and accidentally, but never designedly, and with a systematic and persevering purpose of overthrowing the free principles of the government.

I do not like [in the new Federal Constitution] the omission of a Bill of Rights providing clearly and without the aid of sophisms for... protection against standing armies

An individual, thinking himself injured, makes more noise than a State.

The appointment of a woman to office is an innovation for which the public is not prepared, nor I.

I find that he is happiest of whom the world says least, good or bad.

A room without books is like a life without meaning.

The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest.