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Thomas Jefferson Quotes - Page 9

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If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send one hundred and fifty lawyers, whose trade it is to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour?

If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send one hundred and fifty lawyers, whose trade it is to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour?

Thomas Jefferson
Yield, Talking, People
Autobiography (1821)

The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, Government, Political
Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.8, Modern Library

Experience demands that man is the only animal which devours his own kind, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, Animal, Economic Inequality
Letter to Colonel Edward Carrington, 16 January 1787

All authority belongs to the people... In questions of power let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief with chains of the Constitution.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, People, Liberty

In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own.

Thomas Jefferson
Country, Religious, Atheist
Thomas Jefferson (2011). “The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Retirement Series, Volume 7: 28 November 1813 to 30 September 1814”, p.248, Princeton University Press

The mobs of the great cities add just so much to the support of pure government as sores do to the strength of the human body. It is the manners and spirit of a people which preserve a republic in vigor. A degeneracy in these is a canker which soon eats to the heart of its laws and constitution.

Thomas Jefferson
Heart, Government, Law
Thomas Jefferson, John Dewey (2008). “The Essential Jefferson”, p.75, Courier Corporation

But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare in the constitution they are forming that neither the legislature, nor the nation itself can validly contract more debt, than they may pay within their own age, or within the term of 19 years.

Thomas Jefferson
Wise, Government, Debt Free
Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.93, Algora Publishing

Never spend your money before you have earned it.

Thomas Jefferson
Money, Debt Free, Owing A Debt

In a free society with a government based on reason, it is inevitable that there will be no uniform opinion about important issues. Those accustomed to suppression and control by governmental authority see this as leading only to chaos. But a government of the people requires difference of opinion in order to discover truth and to take advantage of the opportunity that only understanding brings.

Thomas Jefferson
Opportunity, Order, Differences

The time to guard against corruption and tyranny is before they shall have gotten hold of us. It is better to keep the wolf out of the fold, than to trust to drawing his teeth and talons after he shall have entered.

Thomas Jefferson
Drawing, Teeth, Civil Rights
Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.40, Rowman & Littlefield

The tax which will be paid for the purpose of education is not more than the thousandth part of what will be paid to kings, priests and nobles who will rise up among us if we leave the people in ignorance

Thomas Jefferson
Kings, Ignorance, School
Thomas Jefferson (1900). “The Life and Writings of ...”

The God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?

Thomas Jefferson
Justice Of God, Liberty, Conviction
Thomas Jefferson (1998). “Thomas Jefferson: His Words and Vision”, p.17, Peter Pauper Press, Inc.

Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.

Thomas Jefferson
Trust, Freedom, Educational
Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.106, Rowman & Littlefield

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, Tyrants, Long
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1771 - 1779, the Summary View, and the Declaration of Independence”, p.202, Cosimo, Inc.

Paper money is liable to be abused, has been, is, and forever will be abused, in every country in which it is permitted.

Thomas Jefferson
Country, Forever, Paper
Thomas Jefferson, Andrew M. Allison (1983). “The Real Thomas Jefferson”, Natl Center for Constitutional

The ground of liberty is to be gained by inches, and we must be contented to secure what we can get from time to time and eternally press forward for what is yet to get. It takes time to persuade men to do even what is for their own good.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, Liberty, Libertarian
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.126, Cambridge University Press

A properly functioning democracy depends on an informed electorate.

Thomas Jefferson
Democracy, Electorate, Depends

I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.

Thomas Jefferson
Presidential, Political, Storm
Letter to James Madison, 30 Jan. 1787

One man with courage is a majority.

Thomas Jefferson
Motivational, Success, Courage

To take from one because it is thought that his own industry and that of his father's has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association-the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it.

Thomas Jefferson
Wisdom, Father, Exercise
Thomas Jefferson (1900). “The Life and Writings of ...”

Paul was the first corrupter of the doctrines of Jesus.

Thomas Jefferson
Jesus, Historical, Doctrine
Thomas Jefferson, Martin Alfred Larson (1981). “Jefferson, magnificent populist”, Devin-Adair Pub

Among the most inestimable of our blessings is that ... of liberty to worship our Creator in the way we think most agreeable to His will; a liberty deemed in other countries incompatible with good government and yet proved by our experience to be its best support.

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

How to check these unconstitutional invasions of rights by the Federal judiciary? Not by impeachment in the first instance, but by a strong protestation of both houses of Congress that such and such doctrines advanced by the Supreme Court are contrary to the Constitution; and if afterwards they relapse into the same heresies, impeach and set the whole adrift. For what was the government divided into three branches, but that each should watch over the others and oppose their usurpations?

Thomas Jefferson
Strong, Rights, Government

None but an armed nation can dispense with a standing army. To keep ours armed and disciplined is therefore at all times important.

Thomas Jefferson
Army, Gun, Important
Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.167, Algora Publishing

Every generation needs a new revolution.

Thomas Jefferson
Change, Famous Inspirational, Needs