“The great secret of succeeding in conversation is to admire little, to hearmuch; always to distrust our own reason, and sometimes that of ourfriends; never to pretend to wit, but to make that of others appear as muchas possibly we can; to hearken.”

“On the whole, sir, I can not help expressing a wish that every member of the convention who may still have objections to it, would, with me, on this occasion, doubt a little of his own infallibility, and, to make manifest our unanimity, put his name to this instrument.”

“Half-wits talk much, but say little.”

“It is with great sincerity I join you in acknowledging and admiring the dispensations of Providence in our favor. America has only to be thankful and to persevere. God will finish his work and establish their freedom.... If it had not been for the justice of our cause, and the consequent interposition of Providence,in which we had faith, we must have been ruined. If had ever before been an atheist, I should now have been convinced of the being and government of a Deity! It is He who abases the proud and favors the humble. May we never forget His goodnes to us, and may our future conduct manifest our gratitude....I believe in one God, Creator of the universe. That He governs it by his providence. That He ought to be worshiped.”

“Little strokes fell great oaks.”

“Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.”

“Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one”