My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth.
I beg you be persuaded that no one would be more zealous than myself to establish effectual barriers against the horrors of spiritual tyranny, and every species of religious persecution.
It may be laid down as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every Citizen who enjoys the protection of a Free Government, owes not only a proportion of his property, but even of his personal services to the defense of it.
There is nothing which can better deserve your patronage, than the promotion of science and literature. Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness.
To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.
Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.
Being no bigot myself to any mode of worship, I am disposed to endulge the professors of Christianity in the church, that road to heaven which to them shall seem the most direct plainest easiest and least liable to exception.
Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.
We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience.
Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.
There can be no greater error than to expect, or calculate, upon real favors from nation to nation. It is an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard.
Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.
Laws made by common consent must not be trampled on by individuals.
Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive.
I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent.
Lenience will operate with greater force, in some instances than rigor. It is therefore my first wish to have all of my conduct distinguished by it.
Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.
War - An act of violence whose object is to constrain the enemy, to accomplish our will.
Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.
