Human nature is not of itself vicious.

To possess ourselves of a clear idea of what government is, or ought to be, we must trace it to its origin.

The danger to which the success of revolutions is most exposed, is that of attempting them before the principles on which they proceed, and the advantages to result from them, are sufficiently seen and understood.

The abilities of man must fall short on one side or the other, like too scanty a blanket when you are abed. If you pull it upon your shoulders, your feet are left bare; if you thrust it down to your feet, your shoulders are uncovered.

Natural rights are those which always appertain to man in right of his existence. Of this kind are all the intellectual rights, or rights of the mind, and also all those rights of acting as an individual for his own comfort and happiness, which are not injurious to the rights of others.

For freemen like brothers agree; With one spirit endured, they one friendship pursued, And their temple was Liberty Tree

The representative system of government is calculated to produce the wisest laws, by collecting wisdom where it can be found.