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Thomas Jefferson Quotes - Page 34

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It is while we are young that the habit of industry is formed. If not then, it never is afterwards. The fortune of our lives therefore depends on employing well the short period of our youth.

It is while we are young that the habit of industry is formed. If not then, it never is afterwards. The fortune of our lives therefore depends on employing well the short period of our youth.

Thomas Jefferson
Work, Youth, Habit
Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.85, Rowman & Littlefield

No government can continue good, but under the control of the people.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, People
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs, correspondence and private papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. by T.J. Randolph”

Though written constitutions may be violated in moments of passion or delusion, yet they furnish a text to which those who are watchful may again rally and recall the people; they fix too for the people the principles of their political creed.

Thomas Jefferson
Passion, People, Political
Thomas Jefferson (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin”, p.441

The patriot, like the Christian, must learn to bear revilings and persecutions as a part of his duty; and in proportion as the trial is severe, firmness under it becomes more requisite and praiseworthy. It requires, indeed, self-command. But that will be fortified in proportion as the calls for its exercise are repeated.

Thomas Jefferson
Christian, Exercise, Self
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies: From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson”, p.37

The general desire of men to live by their heads rather than their hands, and the strong allurements of great cities to those who have any turn for dissipation, threaten to make them here, as in Europe, the sinks of voluntary misery.

Thomas Jefferson
Nature, Strong, Men
Thomas Jefferson (1861). “Correspondence”, p.514

In matters of principle, stand like a rock.

Thomas Jefferson
Rocks, Matter, Principal

If I am to meet with a disappointment, the sooner I know it, the more of life I shall have to wear it off.

Thomas Jefferson
Disappointment, Disappointing, Knows
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Autobiography, Anas, Writings 1760-1770”, p.442, Cosimo, Inc.

Educate and inform the whole mass of the people. Enable them to see that it is their interest to preserve peace and order, and they will preserve them.

Thomas Jefferson
Meaningful, Order, People
Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.63, Algora Publishing

What is true of every member of the society, individually, is true of them all collectively; since the rights of the whole can be no more than the sum of the rights of the individuals.

Thomas Jefferson
Rights, Individual, Members
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies from the papers of T. Jefferson”, p.28

A noiseless course, not meddling with the affairs of others, unattractive of notice, is a mark that society is going on in happiness. If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, People, Unattractive
Thomas Jefferson (1854). “The writings of Thomas Jefferson: being his autobiography, correspondence, reports, messages, addresses, and other writings, official and private”, p.453

Who then can so softly bind up the wound of another as he who has felt the same wound himself.

Thomas Jefferson
Volunteer, Felt, Wounds
Thomas Jefferson (1977). “The Portable Thomas Jefferson”, p.318, Penguin

May [our Declaration of Independence] be to the world, what I believe it will be (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all), the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government... All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man.

Thomas Jefferson
Believe, Eye, Ignorance
Thomas Jefferson (1943). “Thomas Jefferson: selections from his writings edited, with an introduction”

But whatever be their degree of talent it is no measure of their rights. Because Sir Isaac Newton was superior to others in understanding, he was not therefore lord of the person or property of others. On this subject they are gaining daily in the opinions of nations, and hopeful advances are making towards their re- establishment on an equal footing with the other colors of the human family.

Thomas Jefferson
Rights, Color, Hopeful
Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.219, Rowman & Littlefield

My only fear is that I may live too long. This would be a subject of dread to me.

Thomas Jefferson
Time, Fear, Long
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. IX (in 12 Volumes)”, p.210, Cosimo, Inc.

I find that he is happiest of whom the world says least, good or bad.

Thomas Jefferson
Bad Relationship, Government, World
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1786-1787”, p.181, Cosimo, Inc.

Health, learning and virtue will ensure your happiness; they will give you a quiet conscience, private esteem and public honour.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, Teacher, Teaching
Thomas Jefferson, Lyman Henry Butterfield, Charles T. Cullen, John Catanzariti, Barbara Oberg (1950). “The papers of Thomas Jefferson”

The only true corrective of Constitutional abuses is education.

Thomas Jefferson
Abuse

The influence over government must be shared among all the people. If every individual which composes their mass participates of the ultimate authority, the government will be safe, because the corrupting of the whole mass will exceed any private resources of wealth, and public ones cannot be provided but by levies on the people. In this case every man would have to pay his own price.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, People, Safe
Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.259, Cambridge University Press

The further the departure from direct and constant control by the citizens, the less has the government of the ingredient of republicanism.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, Citizens, Departure
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies: From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson”, p.275

My principles, and those always received by the republicans, do not admit to removing any person from office merely for a difference of political opinion. Malversations in office, and the exerting of official influence to control the freedom of election are good causes for removal.

Thomas Jefferson
Political Opinions, Differences, Office

It behooves our citizens to be on their guard, to be firm in their principles, and full of confidence in themselves. We are able to preserve our self-government if we will but think so.

Thomas Jefferson
Thinking, Government, Self
Thomas Jefferson (1854). “The writings of Thomas Jefferson: being his autobiography, correspondence, reports, messages, addresses, and other writings, official and private”, p.320

The superiority of chocolate (hot chocolate), both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the same preference over tea and coffee in America which it has in Spain.

Thomas Jefferson
Coffee, America, Giving

Why suspend the habeas corpus in insurrections and rebellions? Examine the history of England. See how few of the cases of the suspension of the habeas corpus law have been worthy of that suspension. They have been either real treasons, wherein the parties might as well have been charged at once, or sham plots, where it was shameful they should ever have been suspected. Yet for the few cases wherein the suspension of the habeas corpus has done real good, that operation is now become habitual and the minds of the nation almost prepared to live under its constant suspension.

Thomas Jefferson
Real, Party, Government
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs, 2: Correspondence and Private Papers”, p.346

On a hot day in Virginia, I know nothing more comforting than a fine spiced pickle, brought up trout-like from the sparkling depths of the aromatic jar below the stairs of Aunt Sally's cellar.

Thomas Jefferson
Food, Aunt, Virginia
"Coming to a Freezer Near You: Pickle Pops" by Elena Ferretti, www.foxnews.com. March 1, 2010.

That peace, safety, and concord may be the portion of our native land, and be long enjoyed by our fellow-citizens, is the most ardent wish of my heart, and if I can be instrumental in procuring or preserving them, I shall think I have not lived in vain.

Thomas Jefferson
Peace, Heart, Thinking
Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1859). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence”, p.378