By gnawing through a dike, even a rat may drown a nation.

A state without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation.

In doing good, we are generally cold, and languid, and sluggish; and of all things afraid of being too much in the right. But the works of malice and injustice are quite in another style. They are finished with a bold, masterly hand; touched as they are with the spirit of those vehement passions that call forth all our energies, whenever we oppress and persecute.

Applaud us when we run, Console us when we fall, Cheer us when we recover.

Circumstances give in reality to every political principle its distinguishing color and discriminating effect. The circumstances are what render every civil and political scheme beneficial or noxious to mankind.

Magnanimity in politics is not seldom the truest wisdom; and a great empire and little minds go ill together.

Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion.

A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman.

Superstition is the religion of feeble minds.

Taxing is an easy business. Any projector can contrive new compositions, any bungler can add to the old.