It is with a pious fraud as with a bad action; it begets a calamitous necessity of going on.

These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.

In reviewing the history of the English Government, its wars and its taxes, a bystander, not blinded by prejudice nor warped by interest, would declare that taxes were not raised to carry on wars, but that wars were raised to carry on taxes.

The first was a government of priestcraft, the second of conquerors, and the third of reason.

The Allwise Creator hath been dishonored by being made the author of fable and the human mind degraded by believing it.

I disbelieve all holy men and holy books.

Some writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins ... Society is in every state a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.