I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.

Experience (has) long taught me the reasonableness of mutual sacrifices of opinion among those who are to act together for any common object, and the expediency of doing what good we can when we cannot do all we would wish.

The good opinion of mankind, like the lever of Archimedes, with the given fulcrum, moves the world.

Opinion is power.

That to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical.

We may add to the great honor of science and the arts, that their natural effect is, by illuminating public opinion, to erect it into a censor before which the most exalted tremble for their future as well as present fame.

Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle… If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.

Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors? Fallible men; men governed by bad passions, by private as well as public reasons. And why subject it to coercion? To produce uniformity. But is uniformity of opinion desirable? No more than of face and stature. Is uniformity attainable? Millions of innocent men, women, and […]

Even if we differ in principle… I know too well the texture of the human mind, and the slipperiness of human reason, to consider differences of opinion otherwise of form or feature. Integrity of views more than their soundness, is the basis of esteem.