“Men give me credit for some genius. All the genius I have lies in this; when I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the effort that I have made is what people are pleased to call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of labor and thought.”

“Those who stand for nothing fall for everything.”

“Give all the power to the many, they will oppress the few. Give all the power to the few, they will oppress the many.”

“The constitution shall never be construed...to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”

“A well adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without getting nervous.”

“The art of reading is to skip judiciously.”

“I never expect a perfect work from an imperfect man.”

“A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.”

“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. ”