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Thomas Jefferson Quotes - Page 25

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Truth is certainly a branch of morality and a very important one to society.

Truth is certainly a branch of morality and a very important one to society.

Thomas Jefferson
Hero, Important, Society
Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.286, Cambridge University Press

I suppose, indeed, that in public life, a man whose political principles have any decided character and who has energy enough to give them effect must always expect to encounter political hostility from those of adverse principles.

Thomas Jefferson
Character, Men, Giving
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies: From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson”, p.109

He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it the second time.

Thomas Jefferson
Liars, Lying, Deception
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies from the papers of T. Jefferson”, p.286

Ignorance is preferable to error, and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong.

Thomas Jefferson
Truth, Mistake, Believe
Thomas Jefferson (1977). “The Portable Thomas Jefferson”, p.71, Penguin

The art of life is the art of avoiding pain.

Thomas Jefferson
Inspirational, Funny, Life
Letter to Maria Cosway, 12 October (1786)

The world is indebted for all triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity over error and oppression.

Thomas Jefferson
Errors, Humanity, Triumph
James Madison, Thomas Jefferson (1835). “Resolutions of Virginia and Kentucky”, p.53

In America, no other distinction between man and man had ever been known but that of persons in office exercising powers by authority of the laws, and private individuals. Among these last, the poorest laborer stood on equal ground with the wealthiest millionaire, and generally on a more favored one whenever their rights seem to jar.

Thomas Jefferson
Exercise, Men, Rights
Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.40, Modern Library

As, for the safety of society, we commit honest maniacs to Bedlam, so judges should be withdrawn from their bench, whose erroneous biases are leading us to dissolution. It may indeed injure them in fame or in fortune; but it saves the republic, which is the first and supreme law.

Thomas Jefferson
Law, Safety, Judging
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs Corespondence and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson Late, President of the United States: Now First Published the Original Manuscripts”, p.70

Force is the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism.

Thomas Jefferson
War, Military, Parent
Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson (1988). “Paine and Jefferson on Liberty”, p.143, Bloomsbury Publishing USA

No religious reading, instruction or exercise, shall be prescribed or practiced [in the elementary schools] inconsistent with the tenets of any religious sect or denomination.

Thomas Jefferson
Religious, Reading, School

The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees in every object only the traits which favor that theory.

Thomas Jefferson
Love Life, Imagination, Favors
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies from the papers of T. Jefferson”

Cultivators of the earth are the most virtuous and independent citizens.

Thomas Jefferson
Independent, Citizens, Earth
Thomas Jefferson (1832). “Notes on the State of Virginia”, p.183

An occasional insurrection will not weigh against the inconveniences of a government of force, such as are monarchies and aristocracies.

Thomas Jefferson
Wisdom, Government, Aristocracy

The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.

Thomas Jefferson
Religious, Atheist, Government
Notes on the State of Virginia, query 17 (1781 - 1785)

The clergy ... believe that any portion of power confided to me [as President] will be exerted in opposition to their schemes. And they believe rightly: for I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. But this is all they have to fear from me: and enough, too, in their opinion.

Thomas Jefferson
Religious, Believe, Men
Thomas Jefferson (1900). “The Life and Writings of ...”

Religion is a subject on which I have ever been most scrupulously reserved. I have considered it as a matter between every man and his Maker, in which no other, and far less the public, had a right to intermeddle.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, Religion, Matter
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence and Papers, 1808-1816”, p.292, Cosimo, Inc.

Aristocrats fear the people, and wish to transfer all power to the higher classes of society.

Thomas Jefferson
Class, People, Wish
Thomas Jefferson (1861). “Correspondence. Reports and opinions while secretarry of state”, p.391

I have recently been examining all the known superstitions of the world and do not find in our particular superstition [Christianity] one redeeming feature.

Thomas Jefferson
Death, Wisdom, Religious

Still less let it be proposed that our properties within our own territories shall be taxed or regulated by any power on earth but our own.

Thomas Jefferson
Taxation, Earth, Territory
"Jefferson: Writings".

Money, not morality, constitutes the principle of commercial nations.

Thomas Jefferson
Principles, Morality, Nations

For if one link in nature's chain might be lost, another might be lost, until the whole of things will vanish by piecemeal.

Thomas Jefferson
Nature, Environmental, Links

On every unauthoritative exercise of power by the legislature must the people rise in rebellion or their silence be construed into a surrender of that power to them? If so, how many rebellions should we have had already?

Thomas Jefferson
Exercise, People, Silence
Thomas Jefferson, Richard Holland Johnston, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association of the United States “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson”

The opinions of men are not the object of civil government, nor under its jurisdiction; that to suffer the civil magistrate to intrude his powers into the field of opinion and to restrain the profession or propagation of principles on supposition of their ill tendency is a dangerous falacy, which at once destroys all religious liberty...

Thomas Jefferson
Religious, Men, Suffering
Thomas Jefferson's Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom, founders.archives.gov. June 18, 1779.

I consider the government of the U.S. as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises.

Thomas Jefferson
Religious, Exercise, Government
Thomas Jefferson (2011). “Jefferson on Freedom: Wisdom, Advice, and Hints on Freedom, Democracy, and the American Way”, p.36, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

Truth will do well enough if left to shift for herself.

Thomas Jefferson
Enough, Wells, Left
Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.114, Modern Library