My views and feelings (are) in favor of the abolition of war--and I hope it is practicable, by improving the mind and morals of society, to lessen the disposition to war; but of its abolition I despair.

It is impossible to design a system so perfect that no one needs to be good.

Liberty is the possibility of doubting, the possibility of making a mistake, the possibility of searching and experimenting, the possibility of saying No to any authority--literary, artistic, philosophic, religious, social and even political.

Necessity never made a good bargain.

There is timing in the whole life of the warrior, in his thriving and declining, in his harmony and discord. Similarly, there is timing in the Way of the merchant, in the rise and fall of capital. All things entail rising and falling timing. You must be able to discern this.

We are rich only through what we give, and poor only through what we refuse.

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

The best helping hand that you will ever receive is the one at the end of your own arm.

By necessity, by proclivity, and by delight, we all quote. In fact, it is as difficult to appropriate the thoughts of others as it is to invent.

Nothing changes more constantly than the past; for the past that influences our lives does not consist of what happened, but of what men believe happened.