Quotes by James F. Cooper

The very existence of government at all, infers inequality. The citizen who is preferred to office becomes the superior of those who are not, so long he is the repository of power.

The sun had not risen, but the vault of heaven was rich with the winning, softness that “brings and shuts the day,” while the whole air was filled with the carols of birds, the hymns of the feathered tribe.

Christ, in the parable of the vine dressers, has taught us a sublime lesson of justice, by showing that to the things which are not our own, we can have no just claim.

The sight of a coward’s blood can never make a warrior tremble.

It’s wisest always to be so clad that our friends need not ask us for our names.

I’ve heard it said that there are men who read in books to convince themselves there is a God. I know not but man may so deform his works in the settlements, as to leave that which is so clear in the wilderness a matter of doubt among traders and priests.

Hebrews. This book is much superior to most of the writings attributed to St. Paul, though passages in the other books are very admirable.

They who have reasoned ignorantly, or who have aimed at effecting their personal ends by flattering the popular feeling, have boldly affirmed that ‘one man is as good as another;’ a maxim that is true in neither nature, revealed morals, nor political theory.

The novice in the military art flew from point to point, retarding his own preparations by the excess of his violent and somewhat distempered zeal; while the more practiced veteran made his arrangements with a deliberation that scorned every appearance of haste.

Whenever the government of the United States shall break up, it will probably be in consequence of a false direction having been given to public opinion.