Daniel Webster

"Thank God, I — I also — am an American!"

America has furnished to the world the character of Washington! And if our American institutions had done nothing else, that alone would have entitled them to the respect of mankind.

The Bible is a book of faith, and a book of doctrine, and a book of morals, and a book of religion, of especial revelation from God.

Standing armies are the oppressive instruments for governing the people, in the hands of hereditary and arbitrary monarchs.

Spain stooped on South America, like a vulture on its prey. Every thing was force. Territories were acquired by fire and sword. Cities were destroyed by fire and sword. Hundreds of thousands of human beings fell by fire and sword. Even …

As there was no liberty in Spain, how could liberty be transmitted to Spanish colonies?

knowledge is the only fountain, both of the love and the principles of human liberty.

When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of human civilization.

Suppose that, by some new discovery, or some improved mode of culture, only one per cent could be added to the annual results of English cultivation; this, of itself, would materially affect the comfortable subsistence of millions of human …

I have entire confidence in the improvements to our husbandry, and the other great advantages, which would accrue from judicious rotation of products.

He studies to use his land so as not to abuse it.

A sense of duty pursues us ever. It is omnipresent, like the Deity. If we take to ourselves the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, duty performed or duty violated is still with us, for our happiness or our …

Fearful concatenation of circumstances.

There is nothing so powerful as truth — and often nothing so strange.

It must be confessed, it will be confessed; there is no refuge from confession but suicide, and suicide is confession.

Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable!

The people's government, made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people.

I shall enter on no encomium upon Massachusetts; she needs none. There she is. Behold her, and judge for yourselves. There is her history; the world knows it by heart. The past, at least, is secure. There is Boston, and Concord, and …

The gentleman has not seen how to reply to this, otherwise than by supposing me to have advanced the doctrine that a national debt is a national blessing.

Washington is in the clear upper sky.

Although no sculptured marble should rise to their memory, nor engraved stone bear record of their deeds, yet will their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored.

It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God it shall be my dying sentiment,—Independence now and Independence forever.

Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote.

Our proper business is improvement. Let our age be the age of improvement. In a day of peace, let us advance the arts of peace and the works of peace. Let us develop the resources of our land, call forth its powers, build up its …