I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear.
The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all.
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
Most bad government has grown out of too much government.
Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others?
I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.