“The art of reading is to skip judiciously.”

“The republican principle demands that the deliberate sense ofthe community should govern the conduct of those to whom theyintrust the management of their affairs; but it does not requirean unqualified complaisance to every sudden breeze of passionor to every transient impulse which the people may receive fromthe arts of men, who flatter their prejudices to betray theirinterests.”

“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 others.”

“It has been frequently remarked, that it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country to decide, by their conduct and example, the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not, of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend, for their political constitutions, on accident and force.”

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

“Safety from external danger is the most powerful director of national conduct. Even the ardent love of liberty will, after a time, give way to its dictates. The violent destruction of life and property incident to war, the continual effort and alarm attendant on a state of continual danger, will compel nations the most attached to liberty to resort for repose and security to institutions which have a tendency to destroy their civil and political rights. To be more safe, they at length become willing to run the risk of being less free.”

“Hard words are very rarely useful. Real firmness is good for every thing. Strut is good for nothing.”