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Thomas Jefferson Quotes - Page 67

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The art of life is the art of avoiding pain; and he is the best pilot, who steers clearest of the rocks and shoals with which it is beset.

The art of life is the art of avoiding pain; and he is the best pilot, who steers clearest of the rocks and shoals with which it is beset.

Thomas Jefferson
Art, Pain, Rocks
Thomas Jefferson (1830). “Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, from the Papers of Thomas Jefferson”, p.51

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men. We...solemnly publish and declare, that these colonies are and of a right ought to be free and independent states...and for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honour.

Thomas Jefferson
Independent, Men, Pursuit Of Happiness
Thomas Jefferson (1997). “Thomas Jefferson, His Words and Vision”, p.15, Peter Pauper Press, Inc.

Almighty God hath created the mind free. All attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens...are a departure from the plan of the holy Author of our religion...No man shall be compelled to frequent or support religious worship or ministry or shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion. I know but one code of morality for men whether acting singly or collectively.

Thomas Jefferson
Religious, Men, Justice Of God
Thomas Jefferson (1998). “Thomas Jefferson: His Words and Vision”, p.16, Peter Pauper Press, Inc.

Some other natural rights... [have] not yet entered into any declaration of rights.

Thomas Jefferson
Rights, Natural, Natural Rights

If [God] has made it a law in the nature of man to pursue his own happiness, He has left him free in the choice of place as well as mode, and we may safely call on the whole body of English jurists to produce the map on which nature has traced for each individual the geographical line which she forbids him to cross in pursuit of happiness.

Thomas Jefferson
Pursuit Of Happiness, Men, Law

All... natural rights may be abridged or modified in [their] exercise by law.

Thomas Jefferson
Exercise, Rights, Law

Laws abridging the natural right of the citizen should be restrained by rigorous constructions within their narrowest limits.

Thomas Jefferson
Law, Citizens, Limits
Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private : Published by the Order of the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library, from the Original Manuscripts, Deposited in the Department of State”, p.176

No one has a right to obstruct another exercising his faculties innocently for the relief of sensibilities made a part of his nature.

Thomas Jefferson
Exercise, Relief, Made
Thomas Jefferson, John Dewey (2008). “The Essential Jefferson”, p.86, Courier Corporation

The equal rights of man and the happiness of every individual are now acknowledged to be the only legitimate objects of government.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, Rights, Individual
Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.69, Modern Library

The true fountains of evidence [are] the head and heart of every rational and honest man. It is there nature has written her moral laws, and where every man may read them for himself.

Thomas Jefferson
Heart, Men, Law
Thomas Jefferson (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin. Reports and opinions while Secretary of State”, p.613

I believe that justice is instinct and innate, that the moral sense is as much a part of our constitution as that of feeling, seeing, or hearing; as a wise Creator must have seen to be necessary in an animal destined to live in society.

Thomas Jefferson
Wise, Believe, Animal
Thomas Jefferson, John Dewey (2008). “The Essential Jefferson”, p.88, Courier Corporation

Men are disposed to live honestly, if the means of doing so are open to them.

Thomas Jefferson
Honesty, Mean, Men
Thomas Jefferson (1984). “Jefferson: Writings”, p.1886, Library of America

Our part is to pursue with steadiness what is right, turning neither to right nor left for the intrigues or popular delusions of the day, assured that the public approbation will in the end be with us.

Thomas Jefferson
Ends, Intrigue, Delusion
Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin. Reports and opinions while Secretary of State”, p.238

When we come to the moral principles on which the government is to be administered, we come to what is proper for all conditions of society. Liberty, truth, probity, honor, are declared to be the four cardinal principles of society. I believe that morality, compassion, generosity, are innate elements of the human constitution; that there exists a right independent of force.

Thomas Jefferson
Believe, Independent, Compassion
Thomas Jefferson, John Dewey (2008). “The Essential Jefferson”, p.85, Courier Corporation

Principle will, in... most... cases open the way for us to correct conclusion.

Thomas Jefferson
Principles, Way, Cases

The human character, we believe, requires in general constant and immediate control to prevent its being biased from right by the seductions of self-love.

Thomas Jefferson
Believe, Character, Self
Thomas Jefferson, Jean M. Yarbrough (1963). “The Essential Jefferson”, p.230, Hackett Publishing

In every government on earth is some trace of human weakness, some germ of corruption and degeneracy, which cunning will discover, and wickedness insensibly open, cultivate and improve.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, Weakness, Wickedness
Thomas Jefferson (1832). “Notes on the State of Virginia”, p.156

It is rare that the public sentiment decides immorally or unwisely, and the individual who differs from it ought to distrust and examine well his own opinion.

Thomas Jefferson
Opinion, Individual, Distrust
Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.175, Rowman & Littlefield

Those characters wherein fear predominates over hope may apprehend too much from...instances of irregularity. They may conclude too hastily that nature has formed man insusceptible of any other government than that of force, a conclusion not founded in truth nor experience.

Thomas Jefferson
Character, Men, May

It is unfortunate that the efforts of mankind to recover the freedom of which they have been so long deprived, will be accompanied with violence, with errors, and even with crimes. But while we weep over the means, we must pray for the end.

Thomas Jefferson
Mean, Errors, Long
Thomas Jefferson (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin”, p.115

All men are created equal.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, Classic, Equal
Declaration of Independence (1776).

No instance exists of a person's writing two language perfectly. That will always appear to be his native language which was most familiar to him in his youth.

Thomas Jefferson
Writing, Native Language, Two
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs Corespondence and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson Late, President of the United States: Now First Published the Original Manuscripts”, p.347

The oppressed should rebel, and they will continue to rebel and raise disturbance until their civil rights are fully restored to them and all partial distinctions, exlusions, and incapacitations are removed.

Thomas Jefferson
Rights, Adoption, Rebel
Thomas Jefferson, Martin Alfred Larson (1981). “Jefferson, magnificent populist”, Devin-Adair Pub

The juries are our judges of all fact, and of law when they choose it.

Thomas Jefferson
Law, Judging, Judgement
Thomas Jefferson (1977). “The Portable Thomas Jefferson”, p.439, Penguin

Your own reason is the only oracle given you by heaven, and you are answerable for, not the rightness, but the uprightness of the decision

Thomas Jefferson
Heaven, Decision, Oracles