It is not the greatness of a man's means that makes him independent, so much as the smallness of his wants.

I defy you to agitate any fellow with a full stomach.

It is not the greatness of a man's means that makes him independent, so much as the smallness of his wants.

The smallness of our desires may contribute reasonably to our wealth.

The very hirelings of the press, whose trade it is to buoy up the spirits of the people... have uttered falsehoods so long, they have played off so many tricks, that their budget seems, at last, to be quite empty.

Poverty is, except where there is an actual want of food and raiment, a thing much more imaginary than real. The shame of poverty--the shame of being thought poor--it is a great and fatal weakness, though arising in this country, from the fashion of the times themselves.

To suppose such a thing possible as a society, in which men, who are able and willing to work, cannot support their families, and ought, with a great part of the women, to be compelled to lead a life of celibacy, for fear of having children to be starved; to suppose such a thing possible is monstrous.