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

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.

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.

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.

It's night in the Free People's World Tree Library. All the librarians are asleep, ... between the pages of their enchanted novels.

I agree with Agassiz that dogs possess something very like a conscience.

One's style holds one, thankfully, at bay from the enemies of it but not from the stupid crucifixions by those who must willfully misunderstand it.

Oh, this was the great ploy of Satan in that kingdom of his: to display such blatant evil one could almost believe one's own secret sin didn't matter.

These guys [the Catholic church] make Enron look like altar boys.

With "Let's Dance," there was actually a chance that I was actually going to be able to keep the money I had made.

It's my experience that endings are never easy, and I think I'm not alone among filmmakers or writers in this.

I want to be cremated, and I want my ashes blown in Uri Geller's eyes.

Everybody can make choices that will make peace with the natural world.

By writing at the instant, the very heartbeat of life is caught.