Politicians are like the bones of a horse's foreshoulder-not a straight one in it.

Republics exist only on the tenure of being constantly agitated.... There is no republican road to safety but in constant distrust.

Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty; power is ever stealing from the many to the few.

The community which does not protect its humblest and most hated member in the free utterance of his opinions, no matter how false or hateful, is only a gang of slaves. If there is anything in the universe that can't stand discussion, let it crack.

Brains and character rule the world. The most distinguished Frenchman of the last century said: Men succeed less by their talents than their character. There were scores of men a hundred years ago who had more intellect than Washington. He outlives and overrides them all by the influence of his character.

Sin is not taken out of man, as Eve was out of Adam, by putting him to sleep.

Government began in tyranny and force, began in the feudalism of the soldier and bigotry of the priest; and the ideas of justice and humanity have been fighting their way, like a thunderstorm, against the organized selfishness of human nature.