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Thomas Jefferson Quotes about War - Page 2

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Force is the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism.

Force is the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism.

Thomas Jefferson
War, Military, Parent
Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson (1988). “Paine and Jefferson on Liberty”, p.143, Bloomsbury Publishing USA

If ever we are constrained to lift the hatchet against any tribe, we will never lay it down till that tribe is exterminated, or driven beyond the Mississippi... in war, they will kill some of us; we shall destroy them all.

Thomas Jefferson
War, Tribes, American Indian
Thomas Jefferson (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson”, p.177

I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.

Thomas Jefferson
Wisdom, Peace, War
Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.254, Rowman & Littlefield

I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind.

Thomas Jefferson
Peace, War, Views
Thomas Jefferson (1977). “The Portable Thomas Jefferson”, p.372, Penguin

This I hope will be the age of experiments in government, and that their basis will be founded in principles of honesty, not of mere force.

Thomas Jefferson
Peace, Honesty, War
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1793-1798”, p.219, Cosimo, Inc.

This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, not tolerate error as long as reason is left free to combat it.

Thomas Jefferson
Truth, War, Errors
Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1859). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence. Reports and opinions while secretary of state”, p.196

Having seen the people of all other nations bowed down to the earth under the wars and prodigalities of their rulers, I have cherished their opposites, peace, economy, and riddance of public debt, believing that these were the high road to public as well as private prosperity and happiness.

Thomas Jefferson
Peace, War, Believe
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.91

Honor, justice, and humanity, forbid us tamely to surrender that freedom which we received from our gallant ancestors, and which our innocent posterity have a right to receive from us.

Thomas Jefferson
War, Justice, Humanity
Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.21, Rowman & Littlefield

If there is one principle more deeply rooted in the mind of every American, it is that we should have nothing to do with conquest.

Thomas Jefferson
Peace, War, Should Have
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies from the papers of T. Jefferson”, p.117

One insult pocketed soon produces another.

Thomas Jefferson
War, Political, Insult
Thomas Jefferson (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.510

I have ever deemed it fundamental for the United States never to take active part in the quarrels of Europe. Their political interests are entirely distinct from ours. Their mutual jealousies, their balance of power, their complicated alliances, their forms and principles of government, are all foreign to us. They are nations of eternal war.

Thomas Jefferson
War, Europe, Government
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs, 4: Correspondence and Private Papers”, p.375

We love and we value peace; we know its blessings from experience. We abhor the follies of war, and are not untried in its distresses and calamities.

Thomas Jefferson
Peace, War, Blessing
Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.115, Algora Publishing

Long accustomed to the use of European manufactures, [the Cherokee Indians] are as incapable of returning to their habits of skinsand furs as we are, and find their wants the less tolerable as they are occasioned by a war [the American Revolution] the event of which is scarcely interesting to them.

Thomas Jefferson
War, Long, Interesting

Never was so much false arithmetic employed on any subject, as that which has been employed to persuade nations that it is in their interest to go to war.

Thomas Jefferson
War, Arithmetic, Interest
Thomas Jefferson (1977). “The Portable Thomas Jefferson”, p.191, Penguin

While prudence will endeavor to avoid this issue of war, bravery will prepare to meet it.

Thomas Jefferson
War, Issues, Bravery

We prefer war in all cases to tribute under any form and to any people whatever.

Thomas Jefferson
War, People, Cases
Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution”, p.11, Algora Publishing

My views and feelings (are) in favor of the abolition of war-and I hope it is practicable, by improving the mind and morals of society, to lessen the disposition to war; but of its abolition I despair.

Thomas Jefferson
Military, War, Views

Establish the eternal truth that acquiescence under insult is not the way to escape war.

Thomas Jefferson
Military, War, Acquiescence
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1793-1798”, p.191, Cosimo, Inc.

The evils which of necessity encompass the life of man are sufficiently numerous. Why should we add to them by voluntarily distressing and destroying one another? Peace, brothers, is better than war. In a long and bloody war, we lose many friends, and gain nothing. Let us then live in peace and friendship together, doing to each other all the good we can.

Thomas Jefferson
Peace, Brother, War
Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution”, p.163, Algora Publishing

The lamp of war is kindled here, not to be extinguished but by torrents of blood.

Thomas Jefferson
War, Blood, Lamps
Thomas Jefferson (1999). “Jefferson Abroad”

Believing that the happiness of mankind is best promoted by the useful pursuits of peace, that on these alone a stable prosperity can be founded, that the evils of war are great in their endurance, and have a long reckoning for ages to come, I have used my best endeavors to keep our country uncommitted in the troubles which afflict Europe, and which assail us on every side.

Thomas Jefferson
Country, Peace, War
Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.232, Algora Publishing

I am for relying for internal defense on our militia solely till actual invasion, and for such a naval force only as may protect our coasts and harbors from such depredations as we have experienced; and not for a standing army in time of peace which may overawe the public sentiment; nor for a navy which, by its own expenses and the eternal wars in which it will implicate us, will grind us with public burthens and sink us under them.

Thomas Jefferson
War, Army, Navy
Bernard Mayo, Thomas Jefferson (1988). “Jefferson Himself: The Personal Narrative of a Many-Sided American”, p.212, University of Virginia Press

The power of making war often prevents it.

Thomas Jefferson
War, Antiwar
Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.77, Algora Publishing

We have already given in example one effectual check to the dog of war by transferring the power of letting him loose from the Executive to the Legislative body

Thomas Jefferson
Dog, War, Example
Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.91, Algora Publishing

It is for the benefit of mankind to mitigate the horrors of war as much as possible.

Thomas Jefferson
War, Benefits, Horror
Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution”, p.14, Algora Publishing