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Thomas Jefferson Quotes - Page 6

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I tolerate with the utmost latitude the right of others to differ from me in opinion without imputing to them criminality.

I tolerate with the utmost latitude the right of others to differ from me in opinion without imputing to them criminality.

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

Where the press is free and every man able to read, all is safe.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, President, Safe
Letter to Charles Yancey, 6 Jan. 1816

It is in our lives and not our words that our religion must be read.

Thomas Jefferson
Inspirational, Life, Integrity
Thomas Jefferson, H. A. Washington (2011). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private”, p.28, Cambridge University Press

Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes. 2. Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise depositary of the public interests. In every country these two parties exist, and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves.

Thomas Jefferson
Wise, Country, Party
Thomas Jefferson (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson”, p.376

A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks.

Thomas Jefferson
Being Strong, Nature, Character
Quoted in Colin Jarman The Guinness Dictionary of Sports Quotations (1990).

No experiment can be more interesting than that we are now trying, and which we trust will end in establishing the fact, that man may be governed by reason and truth. Our first object should therefore be, to leave open to him all the avenues to truth. The most effectual hitherto found, is the freedom of the press. It is, therefore, the first shut up by those who fear the investigation of their actions.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, Interesting, Freedom Of Speech
Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.192, Rowman & Littlefield

Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Thomas Jefferson
Wisdom, Law, Tyrants
Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.224, Cambridge University Press

Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want bread.

Thomas Jefferson
4th Of July, Government, Political
Thomas Jefferson (1853). “The writings of Thomas Jefferson: being his autobiography, correspondence, reports, messages, addresses, and other writings, official and private”, p.82

If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.

Thomas Jefferson
Education, Freedom, War
Letter to Colonel Charles Yancey, 6 January 1816

Governments constantly choose between telling lies and fighting wars, with the end result always being the same. One will always lead to the other.

Thomas Jefferson
Peace, War, Lying

Taste cannot be controlled by law. We must resist at all costs any attempt to regulate our individual freedoms and to legislate our personal moralities.

Thomas Jefferson
Law, Cost, Taste

I deplore with you the putrid state into which our newspapers have passed, and the malignity, the vulgarity, and mendacious spirit of those who write for them. ... This has in a great degree been produced by the violence and malignity of party spirit.

Thomas Jefferson
Party, Writing, Degrees
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs, Correspondence and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Late President of the United States”, p.240

We will be soldiers, so our sons may be farmers, so their sons may be artists

Thomas Jefferson
Son, Artist, Soldier

An elective despotism was not the government we fought for, but one which should not only be founded on true free principles, but in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced among general bodies of magistracy, as that no one could transcend their legal limits without being effectually checked and restrained by the others.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, Liberty, Principles
"Notes on the State of Virginia". Book by Thomas Jefferson, Query XIII, 1781.

A democratic society depends upon an informed and educated citizenry.

Thomas Jefferson
Library, Librarian, Democratic

I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and Constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.

Thomas Jefferson
Change, Peace, Boys
Thomas Jefferson (1997). “Thomas Jefferson, His Words and Vision”, p.18, Peter Pauper Press, Inc.

A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities.

Thomas Jefferson
Wise, Wisdom, Men
Thomas Jefferson (2011). “Jefferson on Freedom: Wisdom, Advice, and Hints on Freedom, Democracy, and the American Way”, p.65, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.

Thomas Jefferson
Freedom, 4th Of July, Men
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1793-1798”, p.238, Cosimo, Inc.

"It astonishes me to find... [that so many] of our countrymen... should be contented to live under a system which leaves to their governors the power of taking from them the trial by jury in civil cases, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of commerce, the habeas corpus laws, and of yoking them with a standing army. This is a degeneracy in the principles of liberty... which I [would not have expected for at least] four centuries."

Thomas Jefferson
Army, Law, Liberty

Men as well as rivers grow crooked by following the path of least resistance.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, Rivers, Path

What we learn to do, we learn by doing.

Thomas Jefferson
Inspirational, Educational, Learning

A society that will trade a little liberty for a little order will lose both, and deserve neither.

Thomas Jefferson
Inspirational, Success, Order

An elective despotism was not the government we fought for.

Thomas Jefferson
4th Of July, Government, Liberty
Thomas Jefferson, Richard Holland Johnston, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association of the United States “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson”

Whenever a man has cast a longing eye on offices, a rottenness begins in his conduct.

Thomas Jefferson
Eye, Men, Office
Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.25, Modern Library

The Christian god can easily be pictured as virtually the same god as the many ancient gods of past civilizations. The Christian god is a three headed monster cruel vengeful and capricious. If one wishes to know more of this raging three headed beast like god one only needs to look at the caliber of people who say they serve him. They are always of two classes fools and hypocrites.

Thomas Jefferson
Christian, Atheist, Hypocrite