There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.
When avarice takes the lead in a state, it is commonly the forerunner of its fall.
When the sword is once drawn, the passions of men observe no bounds of moderation.
The truth unquestionably is, that the only path to a subversion of the republican system of the Country is, by flattering the prejudices of the people, and exciting their jealousies and apprehensions,...
Who talks most about freedom and equality? Is it not those who hold the bill of rights in one hand and a whip for affrighted slaves in the other?
Nobody expects to trust his body overmuch after the age of fifty.
Learn to think continentally.
It's not tyranny we desire it's a just, limited, federal government.
Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.
Constitutions should consist only of general provisions the reason is that they must necessarily be permanent, and that they cannot calculate for the possible change of things.
I think the first duty of society is justice.
Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of man will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.
Man is a reasoning rather than a reasonable animal.
Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals, for the most part governed by the impulse of passion.
Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint.
The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity its...
We must make the best of those ills which cannot be avoided.
Let us recollect that peace or war will not always be left to our option; that however moderate or unambitious we may be, we cannot count upon the moderation, or hope to extinguish the ambition of oth...
Power over a man's subsistence amounts to a power over his will.
Unless your government is respectable, foreigners will invade your rights; and to maintain tranquillity, it must be respectable - even to observe neutrality, you must have a strong government.