“Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of man will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.”

I never expect a perfect work from an imperfect man.

The masses are asses.

Have we not already seen enough of the fallacy and extravagance of those idle theories which have amused us with promises of an exemption from the imperfections, weaknesses and evils incident to society in every shape?

A well adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without getting nervous.

The pains taken to preserve peace include a proportional responsibility that equal pains be taken to be prepared for war.

In the general course of human nature, A power over a man’s subsistence amounts to a power over his will.

The art of reading is to skip judiciously.

A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing.

The government is frequently and aptly classed under two descriptions – a government of force, and a government of laws; the first is the definition of despotism- the last, of liberty.

If the sword of oppression be permitted to lop off one limb without opposition, reiterated strokes will soon dismember the whole body.

Men often oppose a thing merely because they have had no agency in planning it, or because it may have been planned by those whom they dislike.

A strong body makes the mind strong, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind.

The constitution shall never be construed, to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.

Nature of war to increase the executive at the expense of the legislative authority.

A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing.

The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed.