When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. |
No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear. |
The first and simplest emotion which we discover in the human mind, is curiosity. |
The people never give up their liberties, but under some delusion. |
The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedience, and by parts. |
Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little. |
Among a people generally corrupt liberty cannot long exist. |
To govern according to the sense and agreement of the interests of the people is a great and glorious object of governance. This object cannot be obtained but through the medium of popular election, and popular election is a mighty evil. |
Tell me what are the prevailing sentiments that occupy the minds of your young peoples, and I will tell you what is to be the character of the next generation. |
People crushed by law have no hope but from power. If laws are their enemies, they will be enemies to laws; and those who have much to hope and nothing to lose will always be dangerous... |
If we command our wealth, we shall be rich and free; if our wealth commands us, we are poor indeed. |
He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper. |
It is not what a lawyer tells me I may do; but what humanity, reason, and justice tell me I ought to do. |
Example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other. |
Toleration is good for all, or it is good for none. |
The age of chivalry is gone. That of sophisters, economists and calculators has succeeded. |
All that is necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing. |
The tyranny of a multitude is a multiplied tyranny. |
There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men. |
They defend their errors as if they were defending their inheritance. |