I can never join with my voice in the toast which I see in the papers attributed to one of our gallant naval heroes. I cannot ask of heaven success, even for my country, in a cause where she should be in the wrong. Fiat justitia, pereat coelum [Let justice be done though heaven may perish]. My toast would be, may our country be always successful, but whether successful or otherwise, always right.

Letter to John Adams [August 1,1816]