“better to keep a good conscience with an empty purse, than to get a bad opinion of myself, with a full one.”

“I am at liberty to vote as my conscience and judgment dictates to be right, without the yoke of any party on me... Look at my arms, you will find no party hand-cuff on them. ”

“... A man's wife can hold him devilish uneasy, if she begins to scold and fret, and perplex him, at a time when he has a full load for a railroad car on his mind already.”

“You can all go to hell; I will go to Texas”

“be always sure you're right, THEN GO AHEAD!”

“Be sure that you are right, and then go ahead.”

“Since you have chosen to elect a man with a timber toe to succeed me, you may all go to hell and I will go to Texas.”