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Thomas Jefferson Quotes about Life

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I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious.

I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Thinking, Government
Thomas Jefferson (1977). “The Portable Thomas Jefferson”, p.461, Penguin

The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Time, Godly
Thomas Jefferson (1774). “A Summary View of the Rights of British America (1774)”, p.31, Academic Resources Corp

If the children are untaught, their ignorance and vices will in future life cost us much dearer in their consequences than it would have done in their correction by a good education.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Education, Children
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence and Papers, 1816-1826”, p.84, Cosimo, Inc.

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).

He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Wisdom, Fun

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

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

Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you, and act accordingly.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Character, World
"The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private".

Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching.

Thomas Jefferson
Inspirational, Life, Motivational

Difference of opinion is helpful in religion.

Thomas Jefferson
Inspirational, Life, Differences

It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, God, Religious
Notes on the State of Virginia, query 17 (1781 - 1785)

Everyone has a natural right to choose that vocation in life which he thinks most likely gives him comfortable subsistence.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Thinking, Giving

Of all exercises, walking is the best.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Exercise, Journey
Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.13, Modern Library

The art of life is the art of avoiding pain.

Thomas Jefferson
Inspirational, Funny, Life
Letter to Maria Cosway, 12 October (1786)

The sun has not caught me in bed in fifty years.

Thomas Jefferson
Funny, Life, Good Morning

History by apprising them [the people] of the past will enable them to judge of the future. . . . It will qualify them as judges of the actions and designs of men: it will enable them to know ambition under every disguise it may assume; and knowing it, to defeat its views.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Ambition, Past
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia II, Correspondence 1782-1786”, p.64, Cosimo, Inc.

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

Always take hold of things by the smooth handle.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Smooth, Handle

Power is not alluring to pure minds.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Powerful, Government
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs, correspondence and private papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. by T.J. Randolph”

The days of life are consumed, one by one, without an object beyond the present moment; ever flying from the ennui of that, yet carrying it with us; eternally in pursuit of happiness, which keeps eternally before us. If death or bankruptcy happen to trip us out of the circle, it is matter for the buzz of the evening, and is completely forgotten by the next morning.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Morning, Pursuit Of Happiness
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs, Correspondence, and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Late President of the United States”, p.95

We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honour.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Unalienable Rights, Inalienable Rights
Declaration of Independence (1776)

In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty.

Thomas Jefferson
Inspirational, Life, Birthday
"Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness".

Difference of opinion is advantageous in religion. The several sects perform the office of a Censor - over each other.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Differences, Office
Thomas Jefferson, Jean M. Yarbrough (1963). “The Essential Jefferson”, p.128, Hackett Publishing

The earth belongs to the living, not to the dead.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Inspire, Earth
Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.599, Cambridge University Press

I never told my own religion nor scrutinized that of another. I never attempted to make a convert, nor wished to change another's creed. I am satisfied that yours must be an excellent religion to have produced a life of such exemplary virtue and correctness. For it is in our lives, and not from our words, that our religion must be judged.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Religion, Our Words
Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.399, Cambridge University Press