Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains.

Instead of an aristocracy of wealth, of more harm and danger than benefit to society, to make an opening for the aristocracy of virtue and talent, which nature has wisely provided for the direction of the interests of society and scattered with equal hand through all its conditions, was deemed essential to a well-ordered republic.

It is a misnomer to call a government republican in which a branch of the supreme power is independent of the nation.

I am entirely persuaded that the agitations of the public mind advance its powers, and that at every vibration between the points of liberty and despotism, something will be gained for the former. As men become better informed, their rulers must respect them the more.

Anarchy [is] necessarily consequent to inefficiency.

The most successful war seldom pays for its losses.

I tolerate with the utmost latitude the right of others to differ from me in opinion without imputing to them criminality.