[Emigrants] will bring with them the principles of the governments they leave, imbibed in their early youth; or, if able to throw off, it will be in exchange for an unbounded licentiousness, passing, as is usual, from one extreme to another. It would be a miracle were they to stop precisely at the point of temperate liberty.

The metaphysical insanities of Athanasius, of Loyola, and of Calvin, are, to my understanding, mere lapses into polytheism, differing from paganism only by being more unintelligible.

[A]lthough a republican government is slow to move, yet when once in motion, its momentum becomes irresistible.

Music...This is the favorite passion of my soul.

Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.

Ambition is a tricky little animal to tame. It is very skillful at concealing itself from its master.

The issue for patents for new discovers has given a spring to invention beyond my conception.