“I conceive a knowledge of books is the basis upon which other knowledge is to be built.”

Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the attachment.

We must consult our means rather than our wishes.

One of the expedients of party to acquire influence, within particular districts, is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts.

Human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.

I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.

Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause.

A slender acquaintance with the world must convince every man that actions, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment of friends.

Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.

The nation which indulges toward another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave.

Paper money has had the effect in your state that it will ever have, to ruin commerce, oppress the honest, and open the door to every species of fraud and injustice.

Man is the religious animal.

If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it.

It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.

We have probably had too good an opinion of human nature in forming our confederation.

Things in life will not always run smoothly. Sometimes we will be rising toward the heights—then all will seem to reverse itself and start downward.

Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; for ‘tis better to be alone than in bad company.

The trouble with writing a book about yourself is that you can’t fool around.

Make it a rule never to give a child a book you would not read yourself.

Read absolutely everything you get your hands on because you’ll never know where you’ll get an idea from.

The reason I collect good ideas is because plots themselves are very difficult indeed to come by.

When I look at my room, I see a girl who loves books.

I can’t imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once.

Read a lot. Reading really helps. Read anything you can get your hands on.

It is a great thing to start life with a small number of really good books which are your very own.