“There is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents.”
Men“Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.”
Fear“There is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents.”
Men“Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.”
Men“It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid war but if it shall actually take place, no matter by whom brought on, we must defend ourselves. If our house be on fire, without inquiring whether it was fired from within or without, we must try to extinguish it.”
War“The Creator has not thought proper to mark those in the forehead who are of stuff to make good generals. We are first, therefore, to seek them blindfold, and then let them learn the trade at the expense of great losses.”
Good“A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circlue of our felicities.”
Good“I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge, never fearing to follow truth and reason to whatever results they led, and bearding every authority which stood in their way.”
Knowledge“Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading. I will rather say more necessary because health is worth more than learning.”
Fitness“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.”
Alone“Truth is certainly a branch of morality and a very important one to society.”
Society“Ignorance is preferable to error, and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong.”
Truth“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.”
Government“Question with boldness even the existence of a God because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.”
Fear“He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.”
Knowledge“History, in general, only informs us of what bad government is.”
Government“It is neither wealth nor splendor but tranquility and occupation which give you happiness.”
Happiness“The most successful war seldom pays for its losses.”
War“It takes time to persuade men to do even what is for their own good.”
Good“Books constitute capital. A library book lasts as long as a house, for hundreds of years. It is not, then, an article of mere consumption but fairly of capital, and often in the case of professional men, setting out in life, it is their only capital.”
Life“Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.”
Fear“Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government.”
Government