Every people may establish what form of government they please, and change it as they please, the will of the nation being the only thing essential.

I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccesful rebellions indeed generally establish the incroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions, as not to discourage them too much. It is a medecine necessary for the sound health of government.

One single object...[will merit] the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation.

"History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes" [Letter to von Humboldt, 1813].

A society that will trade a little liberty for a little order will lose both, and deserve neither

The only purpose of government is to protect the people.