A Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.

Government has no right to hurt a hair on the head of an Atheist for his Opinions. Let him have a care of his Practices.{Letter to his son and future president, John Quincy Adams, 16 June 1816}

He is too illiterate, unread, unlearned for his station and reputation.

[You have Rights] antecedent to all earthly governments: Rights, that cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws; Rights, derived from the Great Legislator of the universe.

Honor is truly sacred, but holds a lower rank in the scale of moral excellence than virtue. Indeed the former is part of the latter, and consequently has not equal pretensions to support a frame of government productive of human happiness.

It is an observation of one of the profoundest inquirers into human affairs that a revolution of government is the strongest proof that can be given by a people of their virtue and good sense.

The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a great Measure, than they have it now. They may change their Rulers, and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty.

As the happiness of the people is the sole end of government, so the consent of the people is the only foundation of it.

Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government and in all the combinations of human society.