"Most of the great positive evils of the world are in themselves removable, and will, if human affairs continue to improve, be in a great degree reduced in bulk."

"The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding."

"The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a …"

"Every man who is not a fool knows that a bad government is a great evil; but that there is no greater evil than a weak government."

"Men are not more zealous for truth than they often are for error, and a sufficient application of legal or even of social penalties will generally succeed in stopping the propagation of either."