“The trade of governing has always been monopolized by the most ignorant and the most rascally individuals of mankind.”

To take away voting is to reduce a man to slavery.

Religion is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize humankind; and, for my part, I sincerely detest it as I detest everything that is cruel.

Government is not a trade which any man or body of men has a right to set up and exercise for his own emolument, but is altogether a trust, in right of those by whom that trust is delegated, and by whom it is always resumable. It has of itself no rights; they are altogether duties.

Men should not petition for rights, but take them.

What is it the Bible teaches us? – raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? – to believe that the Almighty committed debauchery with a woman engaged to be married, and the belief of this debauchery is called faith.

No country can be called free which is governed by an absolute power; and it matters not whether it be an absolute royal power or an absolute legislative power, as the consequences will be the same to the people.

It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf.

If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.

Beware the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry.

I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.

It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies.

It has been the political career of this man to begin with hypocrisy, proceed with arrogance, and finish with contempt.

The Deist needs none of those tricks and shows called miracles to confirm his faith, for what can be a greater miracle than the creation itself, and his own existence?

These are the times that try men’s souls.

He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.

An army of principles will penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.

There is no liberty to men who know not how to govern themselves.

What we seek is the reign of law, based upon the consent of the governed and sustained by the organized opinion of mankind.

The essential humanity of men can be protected and preserved only where government must answer, not just to the wealthy, not just to those of a particular religion, or a particular race, but to all its people.

Trusting the government to monitor your calls without listening. It’s kind of like trusting Chris Christie to pick up the McDonald’s and not eat the fries on the way home.

It is for men to choose whether they will govern themselves or be governed.

While free markets tend to democratize a society, unfettered capitalism leads invariably to corporate control of government.

A leftist government doesn’t exist because being on the left has nothing to do with governments.

We must rediscover our faith in the future and join with one another to ensure that nonviolence is the prevalent choice for government, law enforcement, the non-profit sector, business, education, media, entertainment, arts, and for the global citizenry.