Although our prospect is peace, our policy and purpose are to provide for defense by all those means to which our resources are competent.

Ignorance is preferable to error, and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong.

We are sensible of the duty and expediency of submitting our opinions to the will of the majority, and can wait with patience till they get right if they happen to be at any time wrong.

Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.

Blest is that nation whose silent course of happiness furnishes nothing for history to say.

Certainly, no power to prescribe any religious exercise, or to assume authority in religious discipline, has been delegated to the General Government.

Our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to our god alone. I enquire after no man's and trouble none with mine; nor is it given to us in this life to know whether yours or mine, our friend's or our foe's, are exactly the right.