If the people should elect, they will never fail to prefer some man of distinguished character, or services; some man, if he might so speak of continental reputation.

Religion is the solid basis of good morals; therefore education should teach the precepts of religion, and the duties of man toward God.

Fear and monarchy pair nicely. But democracy means you have to work with people you may not like but you must still believe are your equals. And a fearful people never trust the other side.

If you want to preserve - I'm very serious now - if you want to preserve democracy as we know it, you have to have a free and many times adversarial press. And without it, I am afraid that we would lose so much of our individual liberties over time. That's how dictators get started.

I am a person of great faith and idealism and have been in too many situations too many times to become an eternal pessimist regarding politics.

Things happen in American politics in the political center. If the President will meet us in the center, there are things we can accomplish.