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Thomas Jefferson Quotes about Politics

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By oft repeating an untruth, men come to believe it themselves.

By oft repeating an untruth, men come to believe it themselves.

Thomas Jefferson
Believe, Men, Politics
Thomas Jefferson (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence”, p.97

The same prudence which in private life would forbid our paying our own money for unexplained projects, forbids it in the dispensation of the public moneys.

Thomas Jefferson
Political, Politics, Projects
Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1859). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence”, p.301

No nation was ever drunk when wine was cheap.

Thomas Jefferson
Wine, Drunk, Politics

Where thought is free in its range, we need never fear to hazard what is good in itself.

Thomas Jefferson
Hazards, Needs, Politics
Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1859). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence”, p.604

I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge, never fearing to follow truth and reason to whatever results they led, and bearding every authority which stood in their way.

Thomas Jefferson
Truth, Knowledge, Politics
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Autobiography, Anas, Writings 1760-1770”, p.454, Cosimo, Inc.

One single object . . . [will merit] the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation.

Thomas Jefferson
Gratitude, Judging, Politics

Truth and reason are eternal. They have prevailed. And they will eternally prevail; however, in times and places they may be overborne for a while by violence, military, civil, or ecclesiastical.

Thomas Jefferson
Military, May, Politics
Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.228, Rowman & Littlefield

If the book be false in its facts, disprove them; if false in its reasoning, refute it. But, for God's sake, let us freely hear both sides, if we choose.

Thomas Jefferson
Book, Political Differences, Politics
Thomas Jefferson (2011). “Jefferson on Freedom: Wisdom, Advice, and Hints on Freedom, Democracy, and the American Way”, p.41, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

I hope that we have not labored in vain, and that our experiment will still prove that men can be governed by reason.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, Politics, Reason
Thomas Jefferson (1856). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence”, p.209

We are now vibrating between too much and too little government, and the pendulum will rest finally in the middle.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, Politics, Littles
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1786-1787”, p.385, Cosimo, Inc.

Politics is such a torment that I advise everyone I love not to mix with it.

Thomas Jefferson
Love, Political, Politics

Be a listener only, keep within yourself, and endeavor to establish with yourself the habit of silence, especially in politics.

Thomas Jefferson
Silence, Political, Politics
Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.279, Cambridge University Press

Truth is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error, and has nothing to fear from the conflict, unless, by human interposition, disarmed of her natural weapons, free argument and debate; errors ceasing to be dangerous when it is permitted freely to contradict them.

Thomas Jefferson
Errors, Politics, Weapons
"A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom" (1779)

Anarchy [is] necessarily consequent to inefficiency.

Thomas Jefferson
Politics, Anarchy, Inefficiency

Government as well as religion has furnished its schisms, its persecutions and its devices for fattening idleness on the earnings of the people.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, People, Politics
Thomas Jefferson, J. Jefferson Looney (2004). “The Papers of Thomas Jefferson: 1 October 1814 to 31 August 1815”, p.212, Princeton University Press

We ought not to schismatize on either men or measures. Principles alone can justify that.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, Principles, Politics
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence and Papers, 1808-1816”, p.193, Cosimo, Inc.

We often repent of what we have said, but never, never, of that which we have not.

Thomas Jefferson
Political, Politics, Politician
Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin”, p.333

Error indeed has often prevailed by the assistance of power or force. Truth is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error.

Thomas Jefferson
Errors, Politics, Truth Is
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1771 - 1779, the Summary View, and the Declaration of Independence”, p.267, Cosimo, Inc.

He alone who walks strict and upright, and who, in matters of opinion, will be contented that others should be as free as himself and acquiesce when his opinion is freely overruled, will attain his object in the end.

Thomas Jefferson
Politics, Matter, Opinion

Experience has already shown that the impeachment the Constitution has provided is not even a scarecrow.

Thomas Jefferson
Political, President, Politics

...is the spirit of the people an infallible, a permanent reliance? ...the spirit of the times may alter, will alter. Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless.

Thomas Jefferson
People, May, Politics
Thomas Jefferson, Jean M. Yarbrough (1963). “The Essential Jefferson”, p.129, Hackett Publishing

No man has done everything he can who has done only his best.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, Done, Politics

I am conscious that an equal division of property is impracticable, but the consequences of this enormous inequality producing so much misery to the bulk of mankind, legislators cannot invent too many devices for subdividing property.

Thomas Jefferson
Wisdom, Division, Politics
Thomas Jefferson, Jean M. Yarbrough (1963). “The Essential Jefferson”, p.154, Hackett Publishing

We are completely saddled and bridled, and... the bank is so firmly mounted on us that we must go where it will guide.

Thomas Jefferson
Wisdom, Politics, Economy
Thomas Jefferson, Andrew M. Allison (1983). “The Real Thomas Jefferson”, Natl Center for Constitutional

No man will ever carry out of the Presidency the reputation which carried him into it.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, Political, Politics