For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst and to provide for it.
It is the business of a virtuous clergy to censure vice in every appearance of it.
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government – lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.
The eternal difference between right and wrong does not fluctuate, it is immutable.
Show me that age and country where the rights and liberties of the people were placed on the sole chance of their rulers being good men, without a consequent loss of liberty?
Congress may carry on the most wicked and pernicious of schemes under the dark veil of secrecy. The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided and that is the lamp of experience.
I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.
I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.
I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.
For my part whatever anguish of spirit it may cost I am willing to know the whole truth – to know the worst and provide for it.
It is natural to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes to that siren until she allures us to our death.
We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power… the battle, sir, is not to the strong alone it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.
Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!
I have now disposed of all my property to my family. There is one thing more I wish I could give them, and that is the Christian religion.
This is all the inheritance I give to my dear family. The religion of Christ will give them one which will make them rich indeed.
It is a debt we owe to the purity of our religion to show that it is at variance with that law which warrants slavery.
The Bible is worth all the other books which have ever been printed.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience.
For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst and provide for it.
Perfect freedom is as necessary to the health and vigor of commerce as it is to the health and vigor of citizenship.
When the American spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different: Liberty, sir, was the primary object.
Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense?
The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.
Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.
I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.