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Thomas Jefferson Quotes about Happiness

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The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors.

The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, Government, People

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Change, Happiness
Declaration of Independence (1776).

It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquility and occupation which give you happiness.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Happiness, Work
Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.100, Rowman & Littlefield

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

Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits.

Thomas Jefferson
Inspirational, Happiness, Happy
Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.10, Modern Library

A mind always employed is always happy. This is the true secret, the grand recipe, for felicity.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, Labor Day, Secret
Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.6, Modern Library

Of all the cankers of human happiness none corrodes with so silent, yet so baneful an influence, as indolence.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, Influence, Silent
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1786-1787”, p.265, Cosimo, Inc.

In every country where man is free to think and to speak, difference of opinion will arise from difference of perception, and the imperfection of reason; but these differences, when permitted, as in this happy country, to purify themselves by free discussion, are but as passing clouds overspreading our land transiently, and leaving our horizon more bright and serene.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, Country, Freedom
Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1859). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence”, p.378

If we are made in some degree for others, yet in a greater are we made for ourselves.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, Degrees, Made
Thomas Jefferson (1853). “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.319

My passion strengthens daily to quit political turmoil, and retire into the bosom of my family, the only scene of sincere and purehappiness.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, Passion, Political

I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, Peace, Laughter
Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.296, Cambridge University Press

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Friendship, Happiness
B. L. Rayner, Thomas Jefferson (1834). “Life of Thomas Jefferson: with selections from the most valuable portions of his voluminious and unrivalled private correspondence : with portrait”, p.423

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.

Thomas Jefferson
Family, Happiness, Success
Thomas Jefferson (1900). “The Life and Writings of ...”

Health, learning and virtue will ensure your happiness; they will give you a quiet conscience, private esteem and public honour.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, Teacher, Teaching
Thomas Jefferson, Lyman Henry Butterfield, Charles T. Cullen, John Catanzariti, Barbara Oberg (1950). “The papers of Thomas Jefferson”

Happiness is not being pained in body or troubled in mind.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, Happy, Pain

Industry, commerce and security are the surest roads to the happiness and prosperity of people.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, People, Prosperity
Thomas Jefferson, Lyman Henry Butterfield, Charles T. Cullen, John Catanzariti (1958). “Papers: March 1789 to 30 November 1789”

You have never by a word or a deed given me one moment's uneasiness; on the contrary I have felt perpetual gratitude to heaven forhaving given me, in you, a source of so much pure and unmixed happiness.

Thomas Jefferson
Family, Happiness, Gratitude
Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.166, Rowman & Littlefield

It is in the love of one's family only that heartfelt happiness is known.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, Heartfelt, Known
Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.176, Rowman & Littlefield

I see now our fireside formed into a groupe, no one member of which has a fibre in their composition which can ever produce any jarring or jealousies among us. No irregular passions, no dangerous bias, which may render problematical the future fortunes and happiness of our descendants.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, Passion, May
Thomas Jefferson, Barbara B. Oberg (1950). “The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 29: 1 March 1796 to 31 December 1797”, p.424, Princeton University Press

Perfect happiness, I believe, was never intended by the Deity to be the lot of one of his creatures in this world; but that he has very much put in our power the nearness of our approaches to it is what I have steadfastly believed.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, Believe, Perfect
Thomas Jefferson (1853). “The writings of Thomas Jefferson: being his autobiography, correspondence, reports, messages, addresses, and other writings, official and private”, p.187

Public employment contributes neither to advantage nor happiness. It is but honorable exile from one's family and affairs.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, Employment, Affair
Thomas Jefferson, Andrew M. Allison (1983). “The Real Thomas Jefferson”, Natl Center for Constitutional