Daniel Webster's Quotes

Wisdom begins at the end.

What a man does for others, not what they do for him, gives him immortality.

There is no refuge from confession but suicide; and suicide is confession.

Falsehoods not only disagree with truths, but usually quarrel among themselves.

How little do they see what really is, who frame their hasty judgment upon that which seems.

The most important thought that ever occupied my mind is that of my individual responsibility to God.

Whatever makes men good Christians, makes them good citizens.

The world is governed more by appearance than realities so that it is fully as necessary to seem to know something as to know it.

I mistrust the judgment of every man in a case in which his own wishes are concerned.

Justice, sir, is the great interest of man on earth. It is the ligament which holds civilized beings and civilized nations together.

I was born an American; I will live an American; I shall die an American.

Let it be borne on the flag under which we rally in every exigency, that we have one country, one constitution, one destiny.

A country cannot subsist well without liberty, nor liberty without virtue.

Liberty exists in proportion to wholesome restraint.

On the diffusion of education among the people rest the preservation and perpetuation of our free institutions.

One country, one constitution, one destiny.

Lay this unto your breast: Old friends, like old swords, still are trusted best.

Whether we fall by ambition, blood, or lust, like diamonds we are cut with our own dust.

Eagles commonly fly alone. They are crows, daws, and starlings that flock together.

A politician is the devil's quilted anvil; He fashions all sins on him, and the blows are never heard.

All things do help the unhappy man to fall.

When a man's mind rides faster than his horse can gallop they quickly both tire.

For the subtlest folly proceeds from the subtlest wisdom.

Heaven fashioned us of nothing; and we strive to bring ourselves to nothing.

In all our quest of greatness, like wanton boys, whose pastime is their care, we follow after bubbles, blown in the air.

Integrity of life is fame's best friend, which nobly, beyond death, shall crown in the end.

Man is most happy, when his own actions are arguments and examples of his virtue.

Men often are valued high, when they are most wretched.

Sorrow is held the eldest child of sin.

That friend a great man's ruin strongly checks, who rails into his belief all his defects.

Though lust do masque in ne'er so strange disguise she's oft found witty, but is never wise.

'Tis better to be fortunate than wise.

We are merely the stars tennis-balls, struck and bandied which way please them.

When I go to hell, I mean to carry a bribe: for look you, good gifts evermore make way for the worst persons.