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Thomas Jefferson Quotes - Page 4

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I have the consolation of having added nothing to my private fortune during my public service, and of retiring with hands clean as they are empty.

I have the consolation of having added nothing to my private fortune during my public service, and of retiring with hands clean as they are empty.

Thomas Jefferson
Hands, Liberty, Empty
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies: From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson”, p.69

Our country is now taking so steady a course as to show by what road it will pass to destruction, to wit: by consolidation of power first, and then corruption, its necessary consequence.

Thomas Jefferson
Country, Firsts, Power Corrupts
Letter to Nathaniel Macon, 1821.

Whensoever the General Government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, Liberty, Void
Thomas Jefferson (1977). “The Portable Thomas Jefferson”, p.228, Penguin

The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend to all the happiness of man.

Thomas Jefferson
Jesus, Simple, Men
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies: From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson”, p.349

For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.

Thomas Jefferson
Military, Mean, Gun
Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.226, Algora Publishing

The last hope of human liberty in this world rests on us.

Thomas Jefferson
America, Liberty, World
Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.45, Modern Library

He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Wisdom, Fun

May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.

Thomas Jefferson
Kindness, Helping Others, Compassion

The most sacred of the duties of a government [is] to do equal and impartial justice to all its citizens.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, Justice, Inalienable Rights
Thomas Jefferson (1861). “Correspondence”, p.574

Unless the mass retains sufficient control over those entrusted with the powers of their government, these will be perverted to their own oppression, and to the perpetuation of wealth and power in the individuals and their families selected for the trust.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, Wealth, Oppression

Dependence leads to subservience.

Thomas Jefferson
Liberty, Libertarian, Dependence

I wish it were possible to obtain a single amendment to our Constitution. I would be willing to depend on that alone for the reduction of the administration of our government; I mean an additional article taking from the Federal Government the power of borrowing.

Thomas Jefferson
Mean, Government, Political
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies from the papers of T. Jefferson”, p.404

An enlightened citizenry is indispensable for the proper functioning of a republic. Self-government is not possible unless the citizens are educated sufficiently to enable them to exercise oversight. It is therefore imperative that the nation see to it that a suitable education be provided for all its citizens.

Thomas Jefferson
Exercise, Government, Self

If ever this vast country is brought under a single government, it will be one of the most extensive corruption.

Thomas Jefferson
Country, Government, Corruption
Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.70, Modern Library

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.

Thomas Jefferson
Inspirational, Positive, Success

The man who would choose security over freedom deserves neither.

Thomas Jefferson
Freedom, Men, He Man

We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.

Thomas Jefferson
Government Welfare, Government Debt, Historical
Thomas Jefferson (2011). “Jefferson on Freedom: Wisdom, Advice, and Hints on Freedom, Democracy, and the American Way”, p.26, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

When all government ...in little as in great things... shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power; it will render powerless the checks provided of one government on another, and will become as venal and oppressive as the government from which we separated.

Thomas Jefferson
Freedom, Truth, Knowledge
Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, cont”, p.216

The Bible makes the best people in the world.

Thomas Jefferson
People, World

I have sworn upon the altar of God Eternal, hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.

Thomas Jefferson
Change, Religious, Men
Letter to Benjamin Rush, 23 Sept. 1800

The spirit of the times may alter, will alter. Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless... From the conclusion of this war we shall be going downhill. It will not then be necessary to resort every moment to the people for support. They will be forgotten, therefore, and their rights disregarded. They will forget themselves, but in the sole faculty of making money, and will never think of uniting to affect a due respect for their rights. The shackles, therefore, will be made heavier and heavier, till our rights shall revive or expire in a convulsion.

Thomas Jefferson
War, Thinking, Rights
"The Works of Thomas Jefferson" by Thomas Jefferson, vol. 4 (Notes on Virginia II, Correspondence 1782-1786), oll.libertyfund.org. 1905.

It is every Americans' right and obligation to read and interpret the Constitution for himself.

Thomas Jefferson
Notable, Constitution, Obligation

Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.

Thomas Jefferson
Animal, Rights, Vegetarian Diet

The chief purpose of government is to protect life. Abandon that and you have abandoned all.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, Purpose, Abandoned

Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.

Thomas Jefferson
Motivational, Running, Spiritual
Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.103, Modern Library