The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.

The main objects of all science, the freedom and happiness of man. . . . [are] the sole objects of all legitimate government.

(A plaque with this quotation, with the first phrase omitted, is in the stairwell of the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.)

No one more sincerely wishes the spread of information among mankind than I do, and none has greater confidence in its effect towards supporting free and good government.

I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another.

History, in general, only informs us of what bad government is.

A good government remains the greatest of human blessings and no nation has ever enjoyed it.