A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

Knowledge is invariably a matter of degree: you cannot put your finger upon even the simplest datum and say this we know.

We cannot improve on the system of government handed down to us by the founders of the Republic. There is no way to improve upon that. But what we can do is to find new ways to implement that system and realize our destiny.

Government cannot do it all. As we work hard to break welfare dependency and get young people ready for the labour market we need businesses to give them a chance and not just fall back on labour from abroad.

This is a country for of and by the people not for of and by the government. If we turn it over to them we cannot complain about what they're doing because this is a natural course of men and we have to hold their feet to the fire.

At a time of such hope and optimism in the Middle East we cannot let the Libyan government violate every principle of international law and human rights with impunity.

In a democracy citizens pass judgment on their government and if they are kept in the dark about what their government is doing they cannot be in a position to make well-grounded decisions.

I cannot think of any circumstances in which a government can go to war without the support of parliament.

The United States is at a critical juncture in time. Our government is riddled with historic debt and the limited resources of philanthropic and non-profit efforts cannot meet the scale of social challenges we face with necessary force.

If Bush as I believe has reliable information on the fact that Saddam Hussein is making weapons of mass destruction I cannot not support the policies of his government.

I cannot consent that my mortal body shall be laid in a repository prepared for an Emperor or a King my republican feelings and principles forbid it the simplicity of our system of government forbids it.

Republicans and Democrats have used accounting gimmicks and competing government analyses to deceive the public into believing that 2 + 2 = 6. If our leaders cannot agree on the numbers if 'facts' are fictional how can they possibly have a substantive debate on solutions?

We are beginning a new era in our government. I cannot too strongly urge the necessity of a rigid economy and an inflexible determination not to enlarge the income beyond the real necessities of the government.

If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists - to protect them and to promote their common welfare - all else is lost.

How does it become a man to behave towards the American government today? I answer that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it.

So confident am I in the intentions as well as wisdom of the government that I shall always be satisfied that what is not done either cannot or ought not to be done.

Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he then be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the form of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question.

Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced.

Since you cannot do good to all you are to pay special attention to those who by the accidents of time or place or circumstances are brought into closer connection with you.

Anyone who tells a lie has not a pure heart and cannot make a good soup.

The main foundations of every state new states as well as ancient or composite ones are good laws and good arms you cannot have good laws without good arms and where there are good arms good laws inevitably follow.

That which is not good for the bee-hive cannot be good for the bees.

Apply yourself both now and in the next life. Without effort you cannot be prosperous. Though the land be good You cannot have an abundant crop without cultivation.

It is a fact often observed that men have written good verses under the inspiration of passion who cannot write well under other circumstances.