“It has been the political career of this man to begin with hypocrisy, proceed with arrogance, and finish with contempt.”

Religion is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize humankind; and, for my part, I sincerely detest it as I detest everything that is cruel.

Government is not a trade which any man or body of men has a right to set up and exercise for his own emolument, but is altogether a trust, in right of those by whom that trust is delegated, and by whom it is always resumable. It has of itself no rights; they are altogether duties.

Men should not petition for rights, but take them.

What is it the Bible teaches us? – raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? – to believe that the Almighty committed debauchery with a woman engaged to be married, and the belief of this debauchery is called faith.

No country can be called free which is governed by an absolute power; and it matters not whether it be an absolute royal power or an absolute legislative power, as the consequences will be the same to the people.

It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf.

If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.

Beware the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry.

I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.

It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies.

The Deist needs none of those tricks and shows called miracles to confirm his faith, for what can be a greater miracle than the creation itself, and his own existence?

These are the times that try men’s souls.

He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.

An army of principles will penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.

Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.

The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.

An average Christian, in an average church, listen to an average Sunday sermon has achieved a level of arrogance simply unimaginable in scientific discourse — and there have been some extraordinary arrogant scientists.

The arrogant ego desires respect, whereas the humble worker inspires respect.

Arrogance can lead to death.

As humans grew stronger, I think that we became quite arrogant, losing the sorrow of ‘we have no other choice.’

Man in his arrogance thinks himself a great work, worthy of the interposition of a deity. More humble, and I believe truer, to consider him created from animals.

The line between confidence and arrogance is very fine, and the line between arrogance and stupidity even finer.

Undisguised clarity is easily mistaken for arrogance.

Arrogance is truly the child of impiety, but from health of soul comes happiness, dear to all, much prayed for.