Nothing could be more ill-judged than that intolerant spirit which has, at all times, characterized political parties.

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.

Love without rest.

Whatever we do and are, we are given the means thereof

Young men wish: love money and health. One day they'll say: health money and love.

Irrespective of age, we mourn for those loved and lost. Mourning is one of the deepest expressions of pure love.

Genius is the talent of a person who is dead.

I have very nice cars. I never get to drive them, because I'm never home.

My wife has lived with at least five different men since we were wed - and each of the five has been me.

The grand style is available now only in old poems, museums, and parodies.

In the coming decades, questions of identity, meaning cultural heritage, language, and religion will play a central role in politics.

We have no desire to make anybody look like a blithering idiot, but we do love it when they do.