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Thomas Jefferson Quotes - Page 19

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I was much an enemy to monarchies before I came to Europe. I am ten thousand times more so, since I have seen what they are. There is scarcely an evil known in these countries, which may not be traced to their king, as

I was much an enemy to monarchies before I came to Europe. I am ten thousand times more so, since I have seen what they are. There is scarcely an evil known in these countries, which may not be traced to their king, as its source, nor a good, which is not derived from the small fibres of republicanism existing among them.

Thomas Jefferson
Country, Kings, Europe
Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.98, Rowman & Littlefield

I will not believe our labors are lost. I shall not die without a hope that light and liberty are on a steady advance.

Thomas Jefferson
Freedom, Believe, Light
Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.293, Algora Publishing

Female education ... has occupied my attention so far only as the education of my own daughters ... I thought it essential to give them a solid education which might enable them, when become mothers, to educate their own daughters, and even to direct the course for sons, should their fathers be.

Thomas Jefferson
Daughter, Mother, Educational
Thomas Jefferson, Jean M. Yarbrough (1963). “The Essential Jefferson”, p.247, Hackett Publishing

Legislators cannot invent too many devices for subdividing property... Another means of silently lessening the inequality of property is to exempt all from taxation below a certain point, and to tax the higher portions of property in geometrical progression as they rise. Whenever there is in any country, uncultivated lands and unemployed poor, it is clear that the laws of property have been so far extended as to violate natural right.

Thomas Jefferson
Country, Mean, Law
Thomas Jefferson's letter to James Madison, founders.archives.gov. October 28, 1785.

Every man cannot have his way in all things. If his opinion prevails at some times, he should acquiesce on seeing that of others preponderate at other times. Without this mutual disposition we are disjointed individuals, but not a society.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, Democracy, Way
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. IX (in 12 Volumes)”, p.281, Cosimo, Inc.

A Nation's best defense is an educated citizenry

Thomas Jefferson
Defense, Educated, Nations

Should things go wrong at any time, the people will set them to rights by the peaceable exercise of their elective rights.

Thomas Jefferson
Exercise, Rights, People
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies from the papers of T. Jefferson”

The fore horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follow that, and in its turn wretchedness and oppression.

Thomas Jefferson
Horse, Team, Taxation

It is an insult to our citizens to question whether they are rational beings or not, and blasphemy against religion to suppose it cannot stand the test of truth and reason.

Thomas Jefferson
Atheism, Citizens, Tests
Thomas Jefferson (2011). “The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Retirement Series, Volume 7: 28 November 1813 to 30 September 1814”, p.304, Princeton University Press

It is important to strengthen the State governments; and as this cannot be done by any change in the Federal Constitution (for the preservation of that is all we need contend for), it must be done by the States themselves, erecting such barriers at the constitutional line as cannot be surmounted either by themselves or by the General Government. The only barrier in their power is a wise government. A weak one will lose ground in every contest.

Thomas Jefferson
Wise, Government, Important
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1789-1792”, p.351, Cosimo, Inc.

I have been happy . . . in believing that . . . whatever follies we may be led into as to foreign nations, we shall never give up our Union, the last anchor of our hope, and that alone which is to prevent this heavenly country from becoming an arena of gladiators.

Thomas Jefferson
Country, Giving Up, Believe
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs, correspondence and private papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. by T.J. Randolph”, p.359

I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion.

Thomas Jefferson
Education, Peace, Exercise
Letter to William Charles Jarvis, 28 Sept. 1820

All persons shall have full and free liberty of religious opinion; nor shall any be compelled to frequent or maintain any religious institution.

Thomas Jefferson
Religious, Liberty, Opinion
Thomas Jefferson (1977). “The Portable Thomas Jefferson”, p.206, Penguin

What has been the effect of [religious] coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth.

Thomas Jefferson
Religious, Hypocrite, Errors
Thomas Jefferson, Richard Holland Johnston, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association of the United States “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson”

I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep forever: that, considering numbers, nature, and natural means only, a revolution of the wheel of fortune, an exchange of situation, is among possible events: that it may become probable by supernatural interference! The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in such a contest.

Thomas Jefferson
Country, Mean, Sleep
Thomas Jefferson (1854). “The writings of Thomas Jefferson: being his autobiography, correspondence, reports, messages, addresses, and other writings, official and private”, p.404

It is so difficult to draw a clear line of separation between the abuse and the wholesome use of the press, that as yet we have found it better to trust the public judgment, rather than the magistrate, with the discrimination between truth and falsehood. And hitherto the public judgment has performed that office with wonderful correctness.

Thomas Jefferson
Office, Abuse, Lines
Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin”, p.463

A candle loses nothing when it lights another candle.

Thomas Jefferson
Light, Founding Fathers Democracy, Candle

A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent for a second; that second for a third; and so on, till the bulk of the society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery, to have no sensibilities left but for sin and suffering.

Thomas Jefferson
Adversity, Suffering, Principles
Thomas Jefferson, Andrew M. Allison (1983). “The Real Thomas Jefferson”, Natl Center for Constitutional

The functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty and property of their constituents.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, Liberty, Command
Thomas Jefferson “Selected letters of Thomas Jefferson”, Lulu.com

Freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of person under protection of habeas corpus; and trial by juries impartially selected, these principles form the bright constellation which has gone before us, and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation.

Thomas Jefferson
Freedom, Age, Trials
First Inaugural Address, 4 Mar. 1801

Our Constitution... has not left the religion of its citizens under the power of its public functionaries, were it possible that any of these should consider a conquest over the conscience of men either attainable or applicable to any desirable purpose.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, Atheism, Citizens
Thomas Jefferson (1854). “The writings of Thomas Jefferson: being his autobiography, correspondence, reports, messages, addresses, and other writings, official and private”, p.147

A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society.

Thomas Jefferson
Integrity, Responsibility, Hypocrisy
Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.66, Modern Library

The Christian god is a being of terrific character - cruel, vindictive, capricious and unjust.

Thomas Jefferson
Christian, Character, Religion

It is not by the consolidation or concentration of powers but by their distribution that good government is effected.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, Political, Concentration
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies from the papers of T. Jefferson”, p.66

All the States but our own are sensible that knowlege is power.

Thomas Jefferson
Education, States, Sensible