"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward for evermore."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Yesterday the greatest question was decided which ever was debated in America; and a greater perhaps never was, nor will be, decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, that those United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Of right and wrong he taught Truths as refined as ever Athens heard; And (strange to tell!) he practised what he preached."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"And coxcombs vanquish Berkeley by a grin."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Now let us thank the Eternal Power: convinced That Heaven but tries our virtue by affliction,-- That oft the cloud which wraps the present hour Serves but to brighten all our future days."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"The name of the slough was Despond."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Some said, "John, print it;" others said, "Not so." Some said, "It might do good;" others said, "No.""

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Every fat must stand upon his bottom."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Some things are of that nature as to make One's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"He that is down needs fear no fall."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"The palace Beautiful."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"They came to the Delectable Mountains."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"It beareth the name of Vanity Fair, because the town where 't is kept is lighter than vanity."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Dark as pitch."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"And so I penned It down, until at last it came to be, For length and breadth, the bigness which you see."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Take time enough: all other graces Will soon fill up their proper places."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"As clear as a whistle."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"God bless the King,--I mean the faith's defender! God bless--no harm in blessing--the Pretender! But who pretender is, or who is king,-- God bless us all!--that 's quite another thing."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Some say, compar'd to Bononcini, That Mynheer Handel 's but a ninny; Others aver that he to Handel Is scarcely fit to hold a candle. Strange all this difference should be 'Twixt Tweedledum and Tweedledee."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Bone and Skin, two millers thin, Would starve us all, or near it; But be it known to Skin and Bone That Flesh and Blood can't bear it."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Thus adorned, the two heroes, 'twixt shoulder and elbow, Shook hands and went to 't; and the word it was bilbow."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"The point is plain as a pike-staff."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"The very essence of a free government consists in considering offices as public trusts, bestowed for the good of the country, and not for the benefit of an individual or a party."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"A power has risen up in the government greater than the people themselves, consisting of many and various and powerful interests, combined into one mass, and held together by the cohesive power of the vast surplus in the banks."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"A man who could make so vile a pun would not scruple to pick a pocket."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Our cause is just, our union is perfect."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Then join in hand, brave Americans all! By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"And all to leave what with his toil he won To that unfeather'd two-legged thing, a son."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"And heaven had wanted one immortal song."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Whate'er he did was done with so much ease, In him alone 't was natural to please."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"The people's prayer, the glad diviner's theme, The young men's vision, and the old men's dream!"

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Behold him setting in his western skies, The shadows lengthening as the vapours rise."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"But wild Ambition loves to slide, not stand, And Fortune's ice prefers to Virtue's land."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"A fiery soul, which, working out its way, Fretted the pygmy-body to decay, And o'er-inform'd the tenement of clay. A daring pilot in extremity; Pleas'd with the danger, when the waves went high He sought the storms."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Resolv'd to ruin or to rule the state."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Great wits are sure to madness near allied, And thin partitions do their bounds divide."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"And threat'ning France, plac'd like a painted Jove, Kept idle thunder in his lifted hand."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Above any Greek or Roman name."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"For those whom God to ruin has design'd, He fits for fate, and first destroys their mind."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Since heaven's eternal year is thine."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"But Shakespeare's magic could not copied be; Within that circle none durst walk but he."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"None but the brave deserves the fair."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"He trudg'd along unknowing what he sought, And whistled as he went, for want of thought."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"A man so various, that he seem'd to be Not one, but all mankind's epitome; Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong, Was everything by starts, and nothing long; But in the course of one revolving moon Was chymist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Men met each other with erected look, The steps were higher that they took; Friends to congratulate their friends made haste, And long inveterate foes saluted as they pass'd."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Made still a blund'ring kind of melody; Spurr'd boldly on, and dashed through thick and thin, Through sense and nonsense, never out nor in."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Second thoughts, they say, are best."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Old as I am, for ladies' love unfit, The power of beauty I remember yet."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"Who think too little, and who talk too much."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain

"There is a pleasure sure In being mad which none but madmen know."

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain