Edmund Burke: “My pretensions are such as you cannot be ashamed of, whether they succeed or fail.”

Not being illuminated with the light of which the gentlemen of France tell us they have got so abundant a share, they acted under a strong impression of the ignorance and fallibility of mankind.

Our people will find employment enough for a truly patriotic, free, and independent spirit, in guarding what they possess from violation.

I think our happy situation owing to our Constitution,--but owing to the whole of it, and not to any part singly,--owing in a great measure to what we have left standing in our several reviews and reformations, as well as to what we have…

They will become flatterers instead of legislators,--the instruments, not the guides of the people.