“I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage with my books, my family and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post, which any human power can give.”

Every human being must be viewed according to what it is good for. For not one of us, no, not one, is perfect. And were we to love none who had imperfection, this world would be a desert for our love.

The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers.

I think one travels more usefully when they travel alone, because they reflect more.

It is reasonable that everyone who asks justice should do justice.

We have no right to prejudice another in his civil enjoyments because he is of another church.

Good wine is a necessity of life for me.

Experience declares that man is the only animal which devours his own kind; for I can apply no milder term to the governments of Europe, and to the general prey of the rich on the poor.

Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.

Difference of opinion is advantageous in religion. The several sects perform the office of a Censor morum over each other.

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.

Those who expect to be both ignorant and free, expect what never was and never will be.

Never spend your money before you have it.

The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease

Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.

I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves ; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion.

An enemy generally says and believes what he wishes.

Oh, you who are trying to learn the marvel of Love through the copy book of reason, I’m very much afraid that you will never really see the point.

An event of colossal and overwhelming significance may happen all at once, but the words which describe it have to come one by one in a long chain.

Elvis Presley is all there is. There just ain’t no more. Everything starts and ends with Elvis. He wrote the book. He is everything to do and not to do in the music business.

This is beautiful indeed; the colored people have given this to the head of the government, and that government once sanctioned laws that would not permit its people to learn enough to enable them to read this book.

When you have mastered numbers, you will in fact no longer be reading numbers, any more than you read words when reading books You will be reading meanings.

Life is like an endless book. Each day is a new page and only death can bring the end to this little book of yours.

The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.

The true disciple should aim to live for the gospel, rather than to die for it.