I trust there is not a young man now living in the United States who will not die a Unitarian.
Every Christian sect gives a great handle to Atheism by their general dogma that, without a revelation, there would not be sufficient proof of the being of god.
I am not afraid of the priests. They have tried upon me all their various batteries, of pious whining, hypocritical canting, lying and slandering, without being able to give me one moment of pain.
Of publishing a book on religion, my dear sir, I never had an idea. I should as soon think of writing for the reformation of Bedlam, as of the world of religious sects. Of these there must be, at least, ten thousand, every individual of every one of which believes all wrong but his own.
The only way to win money out of a casino is to own one.
The persons and property of our citizens are entitled to the protection of our government in all places where they may lawfully go.
My principle is to do whatever is right, and leave consequences to him who has the disposal of them.
The lamp of war is kindled here, not to be extinguished but by torrents of blood.
I long to be in the midst of the children, and have more pleasure in their little follies than in the wisdom of the wise.
I see now our fireside formed into a groupe, no one member of which has a fibre in their composition which can ever produce any jarring or jealousies among us. No irregular passions, no dangerous bias, which may render problematical the future fortunes and happiness of our descendants.
It is in the love of one’s family only that heartfelt happiness is known.
My passion strengthens daily to quit political turmoil, and retire into the bosom of my family, the only scene of sincere and purehappiness.
You have never by a word or a deed given me one moment’s uneasiness; on the contrary I have felt perpetual gratitude to heaven forhaving given me, in you, a source of so much pure and unmixed happiness.
If we are made in some degree for others, yet in a greater are we made for ourselves.
The great cause which divides our countries is not to be decided by individual animosities. The harmony of private societies cannot weaken national efforts.
I do not pretend that language is science. It isan instrument for the attainment of science.
While learning the language in France a young man’s morals, health and fortune are more irresistibly endangered than in any country of the universe.
With those who wish to think amiss of me, I have learnt to be perfectly indifferent: but where I know a mind to be ingenuous, andto need only truth to set it to rights, I cannot be as passive.
Nothing is so engaging as the little domestic cares into which you appear to be entering, and as to reading it is useful for onlyfilling up the chinks of more useful and healthy occupations.
No stile of writing is so delightful as that which is all pith, which never omits a necessary word, nor uses an unnecessary one.