But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life; and thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things, the greater part of life is sunshine. In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error. The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. My views and feelings are in favor of the abolition of war--and I hope it is practicable, by improving the mind and morals of society, to lessen the disposition to war; but of its abolition I despair. I live for books. I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing. | 
