Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society.
Avowed resistance by arms, against usurpation and lawless violence, is not rebellion by the law of God or the land.
But a constitution of government once changed from freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.
Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.
I agree with you that in politics the middle way is none at all.
It is folly to anticipate evils, and madness to create imaginary ones.
it is more importance to the community that innocence be protected than it is that guilt be punished.
It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand.
Killing one tyrant only makes way for worse, unless the people have sense, spirit, and honesty enough to establish and support a constitution guarded…against the tyranny of the one, the few, and the many.
Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write.
Nip the shoots of arbitrary power in the bud, is the only maxim which can ever preserve the liberties of any people.
No man who ever held the office of president would congratulate a friend on obtaining it.
Property must be secured, or liberty cannot exist.
The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed…, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity, and humanity.
The jaws of power are always open to devour...the freedom of thinking, speaking, and writing.
The moment the idea is admitted into society, that property is not as sacred as the law of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.
The right of a nation to kill a tyrant, in cases of necessity, can no more be doubted, than to hang a robber, or kill a flea.
There is something very unnatural and odious in a government a thousand leagues off.
Virtue is not always amiable.
[Do not] be wheedled out of your liberties by any pretense of politeness, delicacy, or decency. These…are but three different names for hypocrisy, chicanery, and cowardice.
