But let no person say what they would or would not do, since we are not judges for ourselves until circumstances call us to act.

Every object is beautiful in motion; a ship under sail, trees gently agitated with the wind, and a fine woman dancing, are three instances in point. Man was made for action… a calm is not desirable for any situation in life.

Luxury, that baneful poison, has unstrung and enfeebled her sons.

Patriotism in the female sex is the most disinterested of all virtues. Excluded from honors and from offices, we cannot attach ourselves to the State or Government. Even in the freest countries, our property is subject to the control and disposal of our partners, to whom the laws have given a sovereign authority. Deprived of a voice in legislation, obliged to submit to those laws which are imposed upon us, is it not sufficient to make us indifferent to the public welfare? Yet all history and every age exhibit instances of patriotic virtue in the female sex; which considering our situation equals the most heroic of yours [men's].

I am more and more convinced that man is a dangerous creature and that power, whether vested in many or a few, is ever grasping, and like the grave, cries, 'Give, give.'

The constant roaring of the cannon is so distressing that we cannot eat, drink, or sleep. May we be supported and sustained in this dreadful conflict!

I’m a slow walker but I never walk back.

Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?

You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.

I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.

No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.

I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day.

Message to his son’s teacher: 'Teach him the wonder of books but also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and the flowers on a green hillside. Teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat.'

Whatever you are, be a good one.

Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.

Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.