“[Christianity is] the most ... perverted system that ever shone on man.”

“A Man's management of his own purse speaks volumes about character”

“The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.”

“A habilidade mais valiosa é aquela de jamais usar duas palavras quando uma apenas basta.”

“The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money”

“Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error.”

“Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the ark of the covenant, too sacred to be touched. They ascribe to the men of the preceding age a wisdom more than human, and suppose what they did to be beyond amendment. I knew that age well; I belonged to it, and labored with it. It deserved well of its country. It was very like the present, but without the experience of the present; and forty years of experience in government is worth a century of book-reading; and this they would say themselves, were they to rise from the dead. I am certainly not an advocate for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions. I think moderate imperfections had better be borne with; because, when once known, we accommodate ourselves to them, and find practical means of correcting their ill effects. But I know also, that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.” 

“I do not take a single newspaper, nor read one a month, and I feel myself infinitely the happier for it.” 

“Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred”

“A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks.”

“Wonderful is the effect of impudent and persevering lying.”

“An injured friend is the bitterest of foes.”

“All that is necessary for a student is access to a library.”

“There is not a sprig of grass that shoots uninteresting to me.”

“Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching.”