Learn to think continentally.

In politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution.

It's not tyranny we desire; it's a just, limited, federal government.

I think the first duty of society is justice.

Unless your government is respectable, foreigners will invade your rights; and to maintain tranquillity, it must be respectable - even to observe neutrality, you must have a strong government.

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

In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.

The inquiry constantly is what will please, not what will benefit the people. In such a government there can be nothing but temporary expedient, fickleness, and folly.

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

Even to observe neutrality you must have a strong government.

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

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

The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased.

The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.

Let us recollect that peace or war will not always be left to our option; that however moderate or unambitious we may be, we cannot count upon the moderation, or hope to extinguish the ambition of others.

When the sword is once drawn, the passions of men observe no bounds of moderation.

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.

I never expect to see a perfect work from an imperfect man.