“There are seasons in every country when noise and impudence pass current for worth; and in popular commotions especially, the clamors of interested and factious men are often mistaken for patriotism.”

An avaricious man might be tempted to betray the interests of the state for the acquisition of wealth.

Constitutions should consist only of general provisions; the reason is that they must necessarily be permanent, and that they cannot calculate for the possible change of things.

A powerful, victorious ally is yet another name for master.

The very aim and intention of the democratical part, or the house of commons, is to secure the rights of the people. It’s very being depends upon those rights. Its whole power is derived from them, and must be terminated by them.

Hard words are very rarely useful. Real firmness is good for every thing. Strut is good for nothing.

All communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first are the rich and well-born, the other the mass of the people.

There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.

Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals, for the most part governed by the impulse of passion.

Cold in my professions, warm in my friendships, I wish, my Dear Laurens, it might be in my power, by action rather than words, to convince you that I love you.

The kindred blood which flows in the veins of American citizens, the mingled blood which they have shed in defense of their sacred rights, consecrate their Union, and excite horror at the idea of their becoming aliens, rivals, enemies.

Divide et impera must be the motto of every nation that either hates or fears us.

To all general purposes we have uniformly been one people each individual citizen everywhere enjoying the same national rights, privileges, and protection.

To all general purposes we have uniformly been one people each individual citizen everywhere enjoying the same national rights, privileges, and protection.

I have thought it my duty to exhibit things as they are, not as they ought to be.

Nobody expects to trust his body overmuch after the age of fifty.

A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.

I’d rather die like a man, than live like a coward.

The day may be approaching when the whole world will recognize woman as the equal of man.

The virtuous man contents himself with dreaming that which the wicked man does in actual life.

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.

A woman should have every honorable motive to exertion which is enjoyed by man, to the full extent of her capacities and endowments.

What I say is that, if a man really likes potatoes, he must be a pretty decent sort of fellow.

Oppression makes a wise man mad.

A free man thinks of nothing less than of death, and his wisdom is a meditation, not on death, but on life.