Open your mind before your mouth.

I was in darkness, but I took three steps and found myself in paradise. The first step was a good thought, the second, a good word; and the third, a good deed.

Understanding a question is half an answer.

Words are more treacherous and powerful than we think.

Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they will.

I usually make up my mind about a man in ten seconds; and I very rarely change it.

Surely human affairs would be far happier if the power in men to be silent were the same as that to speak. But experience more than sufficiently teaches that men govern nothing with more difficulty than their tongues.

The only way to make sure people you agree with can speak is to support the rights of people you don’t agree with.

Since men are neither omniscient nor infallible, they must be free to agree or disagree, to cooperate or to pursue their own independent course, each according to his own rational judgment. Freedom is the fundamental requirement of man's mind.

Truly, to tell lies is not honorable; but when the truth entails tremendous ruin, to speak dishonorably is pardonable.

We know how to speak many falsehoods which resemble real things, but we know, when we will, how to speak true things.