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I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.

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

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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...more

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I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.

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I sincerely believe that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies, and that the principle of spending money to be paid by poster...more

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That liberty [is pure] which is to go to all, and not to the few or the rich alone. (to Horatio Gates, 1798)

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I predict future happiness for Americans, if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care o...more

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The dead should not rule the living.

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I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything el...more

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The care of human life and happiness, and their destruction is the first and only legitimate object of a good government.

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...never [enter] into dispute or argument with another. I never saw an instance of one of two disputants convincing the other by argument. I have seen...more

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...We are all Federalists,and we are all Republicans.

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Our country is too large to have all its affairs directed by a single government. Public servants at such a distance, and from under the eye of their ...more

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If a due participation of office is a matter of right how are vacancies to be obtained? Those by death are few by resignation none.

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I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.