Foreign influence is truly the Grecian horse to a republic. We cannot be too careful to exclude its influence.

People sometimes attribute my success to my genius; all the genius I know anything about is hard work.

Give all the power to the many, they will oppress the few. Give all the power to the few, they will oppress the many.

When a government betrays the people by amassing too much power and becoming tyrannical, the people have no choice but to exercise their original right of self-defense — to fight the government.

One great error is that we suppose mankind more honest than they are.

I think the first duty of society is justice.

There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.

Men often oppose a thing merely because they have had no agency in planning it, or because it may have been planned by those whom they dislike.

A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.

It's not tyranny we desire; it's a just, limited, federal government.

There are seasons in every country when noise and impudence pass current for worth; and in popular commotions especially, the clamors of interested and factious men are often mistaken for patriotism.

To worship a sacred mystery was just to worship your own ignorance.

The truth was always out there, you just had to find it.

To defend a country you need an army, but to defend a civilization you need education.

And I liked that whole idea that energy comes from not disseminating your ideas and talking about them.

I have a problem keeping my mouth shut. I usually speak my mind. I'm trying to learn my lesson.

Women who are not living ought to spend all their time cracking jokes. In a rotten society women grow witty; making a heaven while they wait.

Atticus, he was real nice." "Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.

When meditation makes you realize that you have so many limitations of your own and they are all created by you, the longing to break them will come.

I was a terrible English student.

More people have been brought into the church by the kindness of real Christian love than by all the theological arguments in the world.