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

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.

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.

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.

The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave.

I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and Constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind.

Be polite to all, but intimate with few.

Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time, who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done, if we are always doing.

How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened.

How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!

It is stupid to grieve for the loss of a girl friend: you might never have met her, so you can do without her.

It is not hard to deceive ministers, relatives and friends. But it is impossible to deceive Christ.

A friend of mine always says, ‘Women love me for the man I’m not.’

My greatest talent is in my ability to choose good friends. It’s about as important as things get.

The friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.

Let us seek friends that will stir up our prayers, our Bible reading, our use of time, and our salvation.

Spock is definitely one of my best friends. When I put on those ears, it’s not like just another day. When I become Spock, that day becomes something special.

Choose a good disagreeable friend, if you be wise–a surly, steady, economical, rigid fellow.