A few years' experience will convince us that those things which at the time they happened we regarded as our greatest misfortunes have proved our greatest blessings.

To disarm the people... was the best and most effectual way to enslave them.

The freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.

I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials.

We came equals into this world, and equals shall we go out of it.

Considering the natural lust for power so inherent in man, I fear the thirst of power will prevail to oppress the people.

Don't wait around for your life to happen to you. Find something that makes you happy, and do it. Because everything else is all just background noise.

Those gentlemen, who will be elected senators, will fix themselves in the federal town, and become citizens of that town more than of your state.

No point is of more importance than that the right of impeachment should be continued. Shall any man be above Justice?

No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people, but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue.

That in controversies respecting property, and in suits between man and man, the ancient trial by jury is preferable to any other, and ought to be held sacred.

Love is a magical power. If love is not a living magic, then what is?

Becoming a writer is a polite way of saying you've chosen alcoholism as a career.

The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest.

magic persists without us no matter what we may do to try to spoil it

A belief may be comforting. Only through your own experience, however, does it become liberating.

Mothers easily become jealous of their sons' friends when they are particularly successful. As a rule a mother loves herself in her son more than she does the son himself.

It turns out that our notions of what a 'self' is and how it might feel fulfilled have no more objective status than most of the rest of reality. It seems we make ourselves up as we go along.

Across the downs a hummingbird Came dipping through the bowers, He pivoted on emptiness To scrutinize the flowers.

You can be strong without being involved in every single civil war around the world.

I will raid the arsenal and start a war to end slavery.