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Thomas Jefferson Quotes - Page 53

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And, in general, that branch which is to act ultimately and without appeal on any law is the rightful expositor of the validity of the law, uncontrolled by the opinions of the other coordinate authorities.

And, in general, that branch which is to act ultimately and without appeal on any law is the rightful expositor of the validity of the law, uncontrolled by the opinions of the other coordinate authorities.

Thomas Jefferson
Law, Branches, Opinion
Thomas Jefferson, Andrew M. Allison (1983). “The Real Thomas Jefferson”, Natl Center for Constitutional

Each generation has a right to choose for itself the form of government it believes most promotive of its happiness.

Thomas Jefferson
Believe, Government, Generations
Thomas Jefferson, Jean M. Yarbrough (1963). “The Essential Jefferson”, p.244, Hackett Publishing

Compulsion in religion is distinguished peculiarly from compulsion in every other thing. ...I cannot be saved by a worship I disbelieve and abhor.

Thomas Jefferson
Worship, Compulsion, Distinguished
Thomas Jefferson (1976). “Thomas Jefferson, revolutionary philosopher: a selection of writings”, Barron's Educational Series

The idea of creating a national bank I do not concur in, because it seems now decided that Congress has not that power (although I sincerely wish they had it exclusively), and because I think there is already a vast redundancy rather than a scarcity of paper medium.

Thomas Jefferson
Thinking, Ideas, Creating
Thomas Jefferson, Andrew M. Allison (1983). “The Real Thomas Jefferson”, Natl Center for Constitutional

The most effective way to find ourselves enslaved will not be done openly. If weakened we will sink gradually. I ask, who are the militia? They consist of the whole people, .... except a few public officers.

Thomas Jefferson
People, Done, Way

We abhor the follies of war, and are not untried in its distresses and calamities. Unmeddling with the affairs of other nations, we had hoped that our distance and our dispositions would have left us free, in the example and indulgence of peace with all the world.

Thomas Jefferson
Distance, War, Example
Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.115, Algora Publishing

The evils of war are great in their endurance, and have a long reckoning for ages to come.

Thomas Jefferson
War, Long, Evil
Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.231, Algora Publishing

I am myself an empiric in natural philosophy, suffering my faith to go no further than my facts. I am pleased, however, to see the efforts of hypothetical speculation, because by the collisions of different hypotheses, truth may be elicited and science advanced in the end.

Thomas Jefferson
Philosophy, Effort, Suffering
Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, cont”, p.260

The whole body of the nation is the sovereign legislative, judiciary, and executive power for itself. The inconvenience of meeting to exercise these powers in person, and their inaptitude to exercise them, induce them to appoint special organs to declare their legislative will, to judge and to execute it. It is the will of the nation which makes the law obligatory.

Thomas Jefferson
Exercise, Law, Judging
Thomas Jefferson (1977). “The Portable Thomas Jefferson”, p.378, Penguin

The constitution has divided the powers of government into three branches, Legislative, Executive and Judiciary, lodging each with a distinct magistracy. The Legislative it has given completely to the Senate and House of Representatives. It has declared that the Executive powers shall be vested in the President, submitting special articles of it to a negative by the Senate, and it has vested the Judiciary power in the courts of justice, with certain exceptions also in favor of the Senate.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, Justice, House
Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1859). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence. Reports and opinions while secretary of state”, p.465

[n regard to Jesus believing himself inspired] This belief carried no more personal imputation than the belief of Socrates that he was under the care and admonition of a guardian demon. And how many of our wisest men still believe in the reality of these inspirations while perfectly sane on all other subjects

Thomas Jefferson
Jesus, Believe, Inspiration

Ministers and merchants love nobody.

Thomas Jefferson
Ministers, Merchants
Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1858). “The life and letters of Thomas Jefferson: being his autobiography and select correspondence, from original manuscripts”, p.429

As government grows, freedom recedes.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, Grows

Honesty and interest are as intimately connected in the public as in the private code of morality.

Thomas Jefferson
Honesty, Morality, Interest
Thomas Jefferson, J. Jefferson Looney (2004). “The Papers of Thomas Jefferson: 1 October 1814 to 31 August 1815”, p.541, Princeton University Press

I am already sensible of decay in the power of walking, and find my memory not so faithful as it used to be. This may be partly owing to the incessant current of new matter flowing constantly through it; but I ascribe to years their share in it also.

Thomas Jefferson
Memories, Years, Faithful
Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1859). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence”, p.403

I feel a much greater interest in knowing what has passed two or three thousand years ago, than in what is now passing. I read nothing, therefore, but of the heroes of Troy, ... of Pompey and Caesar, and of Augustus too.

Thomas Jefferson
Hero, Two, Knowing
Thomas Jefferson “Selected letters of Thomas Jefferson”, Lulu.com

I have given up newspapers in exchange for Tacitus and Thucydides, for Newton and Euclid; and I find myself much the happier.

Thomas Jefferson
Newton, Euclid, Newspapers
Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.37, Cambridge University Press

I have much confidence that we shall proceed successfully for ages to come. My hope of its duration is built much on the enlargement of the resources of life going hand in hand with the enlargement of territory.

Thomas Jefferson
Hands, Age, Duration
Thomas Jefferson (1861). “Correspondence. Reports and opinions while secretarry of state”, p.77

If our legislature does not heartily push our University [of Virginia] we must send our children for education to Kentucky [Transylvania College] or Cambridge [Harvard College]. The latter will return them to us as fanatics and tories, the former will keep them to add to their population.

Thomas Jefferson
Children, College, Kentucky

In the middle ages of Christianity opposition to the State opinions was hushed. The consequence was, Christianity became loaded with all the Romish follies. Nothing but free argument, raillery & even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.

Thomas Jefferson
Age, Opinion, Argument
Thomas Jefferson (1900). “The Life and Writings of ...”

Knowing that religion does not furnish grosser bigots than law, I expect little from old judges.

Thomas Jefferson
Law, Knowing, Judging
Thomas Jefferson (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson”, p.532

Man ... feels that he is a participator in the government of affairs not merely at an election, one day in the year, but every day.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, Years, One Day
Thomas Jefferson “Selected letters of Thomas Jefferson”, Lulu.com

Never did a prisoner, released from his chains, feel such relief as I shall on shaking off the shackles of power.

Thomas Jefferson
Relief, Shackles, Chains
Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.219, Rowman & Littlefield

Never throw off the best affections of nature in the moment when they become most precious to their object; nor fear to extend you hand to save another, lest you should sink yourself.

Thomas Jefferson
Hands, Affection, Moments

No man has greater confidence than I have in the spirit of the people, to a rational extent. Whatever they can, they will.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, People, Spirit
Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.17, Modern Library