“We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.”

“Everything is useful which contributes to fix in the principles and practices of virtue.”

“It is the duty of every American citizen to take part in a vigorous debate on the issues of the day.”

“The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money.”

“A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have

“If once the people become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature, in spite of individual exceptions.” 

“The opinions of men are not the object of civil government, nor under its jurisdiction.” 

“Tyranny is defined as that which is legal for the government but illegal for the citizenry.”

“I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.”

“There is a ripeness of time for death, regarding others as well as ourselves, when it is reasonable we should drop off, and make room for another growth. When we have lived our generation out, we should not wish to encroach on another.”

“A machine for making revolutions is doing precisely the wrong thing at just the right time.”

“Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the ark of the covenant, too sacred to be touched. They ascribe to the men of the preceding age a wisdom more than human, and suppose what they did to be beyond amendment. I knew that age well; I belonged to it, and labored with it. It deserved well of its country. It was very like the present, but without the experience of the present; and forty years of experience in government is worth a century of book-reading; and this they would say themselves, were they to rise from the dead. I am certainly not an advocate for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions. I think moderate imperfections had better be borne with; because, when once known, we accommodate ourselves to them, and find practical means of correcting their ill effects. But I know also, that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.” 

“Nobody is better than you and remember, you are better than nobody.

“the measure of society is how it treats the weakest members”

“The opinions and beliefs of men follow involuntarily the evidence proposed to their minds.”