They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.—written for the Pennsylvania Assembly in its Reply to the Governor, 11 November 1755

I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such: because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no Form of Government but what may be a Blessing to the People if well-administred; and I believe farther that this is likely to be well administred for a Course of Years and can only end in Despotism as other Forms have done before it, when the People shall become so corrupted as to need Despotic Government, being incapable of any other.

We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.

Beer is God's way of telling us that he loves us and wants us to be happy.

I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited power.

The ancients tell us what is best; but we must learn of the moderns what is fittest.

He who would trade liberty for some temporary security, deserves neither liberty nor security.