Our greatest enemies, the ones we must fight most often, are within.

Of more worth is one honest man to society, and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.

Accustom a people to believe that priests, or any other class of men can forgive sins and you will have sins in abundance.

These proceedings may at first seem strange and difficult, but like all other steps which we have already passed over, will in a little time become familiar and agreeable: and until an independence is declared, the Continent will feel itself like a man who continues putting off some unpleasant business from day to day, yet knows it must be done, hates to set about it, wishes it over, and is continually haunted with the thoughts of its necessity.

A constitution is not the act of a government, but of a people constituting a government; and government without a constitution is power without a right. All power exercised over a nation, must have some beginning. It must be either delegated, or assumed. There are not other sources. All delegated power is trust, and all assumed power is usurpation. Time does not alter the nature and quality of either.

Titles are but nicknames, and every nickname is a title.

Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst.