I can imagine no greater disservice to the country than to establish a system of censorship that would deny to the people of a free republic like our own their indisputable right to criticize their own public officials. While exercising the great powers of the office I hold, I would regret in a crisis like the one through which we are now passing to lose the benefit of patriotic and intelligent criticism.

As a matter of fact and experience, the more power is divided the more irresponsible it becomes.

To do things today exactly the way you did them yesterday saves thinking.

No man ever saw a government. I live in the midst of the Government of the United States, but I never saw the Government of the United States.

You cannot tear up ancient rootages and safely plant the tree of liberty in soil that is not native to it.

Never attempt to murder a man who is committing suicide.

God knows that any man who would seek the presidency of the United States is a fool for his pains. The burden is all but intolerable, and the things that I have to do are just as much as the human spirit can carry.