“If once the people become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature, in spite of individual exceptions.”

We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.

The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.

The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people to whom it properly belongs.

We never repent of having eat too little.

I have no ambition to govern men; it is a painful and thankless office.

Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.

It is an axiom in my mind, that our liberty can never be safe but in the hands of the people themselves, and that too of the people with a certain degree of instruction. This it is the business of the State to effect, and on a general plan.

I’m a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.

Tyranny is defined as that which is legal for the government but illegal for the citizenry.

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.

The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground.

Ignorance is preferable to error, and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong.

No people can be both ignorant and free.

No people can be both ignorant and free.

Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.

I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.