No man in his senses can hesitate in choosing to be free, rather than a slave.

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.

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

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

Critical in this process of wisdom being passed down is that you also need to take it in; you need to listen to it.

I have a very great fear of love. It is so personal. Let each bird fly with its own wings, and each fish swim its own course.--Morning brings more than love. And I want to be true to the morning.

Patriotism is a word which always commemorates a robbery.

Photography is a very subtle thing. You must let the camera take you by the hand, as it were, and lead you into your subject.

Who said nights were for sleep?

The believer who feels the agony caused by rebellion will grow to become the best intercessor.

I live in a neighborhood that's very family-oriented, so I feel like everyone else is sleeping and I'm sitting up, making music. It's just me. It's a nice time to be creative.

There is a world of practical religion in simply being considerate of others.

Social ties are the cheapest medicine we have.

I have always claimed Americans didn't want a drink as bad as they wanted the right to take a drink if they did happen to want one.