A government by the passions of the multitude, or, no less correctly, according to the vices, and ambitions of their leaders is a democracy.

The known propensity of a democracy is to licentiousness which the ambitious call, and ignorant believe to be liberty.

I consider biennial elections as a security that the sober, second thought of the people shall be law.

The happiness of a people, and the good order and preservation of civil government, essentially depend on piety, religion, and morality.

Time never fails to bring every exalted reputation to a strict scrutiny.

Liberty has never lasted long in a democracy, nor has it ever ended in anything better than despotism.

Why then, if these new books for children must be retained, as they will be, should not the Bible regain the place it once held as a school book ?

[the framers of the Constitution] intended our government should be a republic, which differs more widely from a democracy than a democracy from a despotism.

No one ever became, or can become truly eloquent without being a reader of the Bible, and an admirer of the purity and sublimity of its language.

The rights of conscience, of bearing arms, of changing the government, are declared to be inherent in the people.

The House is composed of very good men, not shining, but honest and reasonably well-informed, and in time will be found to improve, and not much inferior in eloquence, science, and dignity, to the British Commons. They are patriotic enough, and I believe there are more stupid (as well as more shining) people in the latter, in proportion.

[Why] should not the Bible regain the place it once held as a school book? Its morals are pure, its examples captivating and noble. The reverence for the Sacred Book that is thus early impressed lasts long and probably if not impressed in infancy, never takes firm hold of the mind.

That can never be reasoned down which was not reasoned up.

We are not to consider ourselves, while here, as at church or school, to listen to the harangues of speculative piety we are here to talk of the political interests committed to our charge.

The gentleman puts me in mind of an old hen which persists in setting after her eggs are taken away.

America is rising with a giant's strength. Its bones are yet but cartilages.

Our liberty depends on our education, our laws, and habits . . . it is founded on morals and religion, whose authority reigns in the heart, and on the influence all these produce on public opinion before that opinion governs rulers.