The Declaration of Independence I always considered as a theatrical show. Jefferson ran away with all the stage effect of that... and all the glory of it.

A desire to be observed, considered, esteemed, praised, beloved, and admired by his fellows is one of the earliest as well as the keenest dispositions discovered in the heart of man.

All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arise, not from defects in their Constitution or Confederation, not from want of honor or virtue, so much as from the downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit and circulation.

There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.

Here is everything which can lay hold of the eye, ear and imagination - everything which can charm and bewitch the simple and ignorant. I wonder how Luther ever broke the spell.

My country has contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.

Fear is the foundation of most governments.

Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.

As much as I converse with sages and heroes, they have very little of my love and admiration. I long for rural and domestic scene, for the warbling of birds and the prattling of my children.

Property is surely a right of mankind as real as liberty.

I must not write a word to you about politics, because you are a woman.

I have accepted a seat in the House of Representatives, and thereby have consented to my own ruin, to your ruin, and to the ruin of our children. I give you this warning that you may prepare your mind for your fate.

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

In politics the middle way is none at all.

The Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation. If I were an atheist, and believed blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations.

Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak.

The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws.

The Declaration of Independence I always considered as a theatrical show. Jefferson ran away with all the stage effect of that... and all the glory of it.

When people talk of the freedom of writing, speaking or thinking I cannot choose but laugh. No such thing ever existed. No such thing now exists; but I hope it will exist. But it must be hundreds of years after you and I shall write and speak no more.

Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war.

Old minds are like old horses; you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order.

Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write.

I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder, as the opening of a grand scene and design in providence, for the illumination of the ignorant and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over the earth.

Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society.

Democracy... while it lasts is more bloody than either aristocracy or monarchy. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.

The essence of a free government consists in an effectual control of rivalries.

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.

Genius is sorrow's child.

The happiness of society is the end of government.

Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.

The right of a nation to kill a tyrant in case of necessity can no more be doubted than to hang a robber, or kill a flea.

There are two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live.

A government of laws, and not of men.

While all other sciences have advanced, that of government is at a standstill - little better understood, little better practiced now than three or four thousand years ago.

If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve?

Liberty, according to my metaphysics is a self-determining power in an intellectual agent. It implies thought and choice and power.

Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people.

Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases.

Power always thinks... that it is doing God's service when it is violating all his laws.

Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it.

I believe awesome things will happen. because it's Monday.

You will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make a good use of it.

The appearance of religion only on Sunday proves that it is only an appearance.

The balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land.

But a Constitution of Government once changed from freedom can never be restored. Liberty once lost is lost forever.

It is wrong to admit into the Constitution the idea that there can be property in man.

A desire to be observed considered esteemed praised beloved and admired by his fellows is one of the earliest as well as the keenest dispositions discovered in the heart of man.

Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery of party faction and division of society.

We should begin by setting conscience free. When all men of all religions...shall enjoy equal liberty property and an equal chance for honors and power...we may expect that improvements will be made in the human character and the state of society.