While prudence will endeavor to avoid this issue of war, bravery will prepare to meet it.

Truth will do well enough if left to shift for herself. She seldom has received much aid from the power of great men to whom she is rarely known and seldom welcome. She has no need of force to procure entrance into the minds of men.

Was the government to prescribe to us our medicine and diet, our bodies would be in such keeping as our souls are now.

The ocean ... like the air, is the common birth-right of mankind.

An enemy generally says and believes what he wishes.

The interests of the States... ought to be made joint in every possible instance in order to cultivate the idea of our being one nation, and to multiply the instances in which the people shall look up to Congress as their head.

No generation has a right to contract debts greater than can be paid off during the course of its own existence.