I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by scripture.
He who is the author of a war lets loose the whole contagion of hell and opens a vein that bleeds a nation to death.
Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property... Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.
Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.
The abilities of man must fall short on one side or the other, like too scanty a blanket when you are abed. If you pull it upon your shoulders, your feet are left bare; if you thrust it down to your feet, your shoulders are uncovered.
Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, cannot be true.
Those who want to reap the benefits of this great nation must bear the fatigue of supporting it.
Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.
The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.
War involves in its progress such a train of unforeseen circumstances that no human wisdom can calculate the end; it has but one thing certain, and that is to increase taxes.
Character is much easier kept than recovered.
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value.
I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.
All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.
There are matters in the Bible, said to be done by the express commandment of God, that are shocking to humanity and to every idea we have of moral justice.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.
It is the direction and not the magnitude which is to be taken into consideration.
