The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts as are only injurious to others, but it does no injury for my neighbor to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pockets nor breaks my legs.
Health is worth more than learning.
Banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies.
That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves.
I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.
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 blind-folded fear.
Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.
Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.
It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.