Whenever a man has cast a longing eye on offices, a rottenness begins in his conduct.

I have no ambition to govern men it is a painful and thankless office.

I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.

Politics is such a torment that I advise everyone I love not to mix with it.

I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.

The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed.

Our country is now taking so steady a course as to show by what road it will pass to destruction, to wit: by consolidation of power first, and then corruption, its necessary consequence.

Power is not alluring to pure minds.

I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.