Thomas Jefferson Quotes about War - Page 3

Convinced that the republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind, my prayers & efforts shall be cordially distributed to the support of that we have so

Convinced that the republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind, my prayers & efforts shall be cordially distributed to the support of that we have so happily established. It is indeed an animating thought that, while we are securing the rights of ourselves & our posterity, we are pointing out the way to struggling nations who wish, like us, to emerge from their tyrannies also. Heaven help their struggles, and lead them, as it has done us, triumphantly thro' them.

Thomas Jefferson

Prayer, War, Struggle

Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.116, Rowman & Littlefield

But is an enemy so execrable that tho in captivity his wishes and comforts are to be disregarded and even crossed? I think not. It is for the benefit of mankind to mitigate the horrors of war as much as possible.

Thomas Jefferson

War, Thinking, Enemy

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

It is true that in the meantime we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public debt.

Thomas Jefferson

War, Long, Suffering

Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.420, Cambridge University Press

We abhor the follies of war, and are not untried in its distresses and calamities. Unmeddling with the affairs of other nations, we had hoped that our distance and our dispositions would have left us free, in the example and indulgence of peace with all the world.

Thomas Jefferson

Distance, War, Example

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

The evils of war are great in their endurance, and have a long reckoning for ages to come.

Thomas Jefferson

War, Long, Evil

Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.231, Algora Publishing

Our fellow-citizens think they have a right to full information, in a case of such great concernment to them. It is their sweat which is to earn all the expenses of the war, and their blood which is to flow in expiation of the causes of it.

Thomas Jefferson

War, Thinking, Blood

Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution”, p.145, Algora Publishing

The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.

Thomas Jefferson

War, Rights, Government

Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.116, Rowman & Littlefield

The most successful war seldom pays for its losses.

Thomas Jefferson

Money, War, Successful

Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution”, p.10, Algora Publishing

I have seen enough of one war never to wish to see another.

Thomas Jefferson

War, Wish, Enough

1794 Letter to John Adams, 25 Apr.

Peace and abstinence from European interferences are our objects, and so will continue while the present order of things in America remain uninterrupted.

Thomas Jefferson

Peace, War, Order

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

...in war, they will kill some of us; we shall destroy all of them

Thomas Jefferson

War

Thomas Jefferson (1861). “Correspondence”, p.177

Whatever enables us to go to war, secures our peace

Thomas Jefferson

Peace, War, National Defense

Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1789-1792”, p.89, Cosimo, Inc.

I know of no safe depository of the ultimate power of the society but the people themselves.

Thomas Jefferson

Peace, War, People

Letter to William Charles Jarvis, 28 Sept. 1820

They are nations of eternal war. All their energies are expended in the destruction of the labor, property, and lives of their people.

Thomas Jefferson

Peace, War, People

Thomas Jefferson (1861). “Correspondence. Reports and opinions while secretarry of state”, p.288

If the obstacles of bigotry and priestcraft can be surmounted, we may hope that common sense will suffice to do everything else.

Thomas Jefferson

War, Common Sense, Drug

Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.247, Algora Publishing

I do not believe war the most certain means of enforcing principles. Those peaceable coercions which are in the power of every nation, if undertaken in concert and in time of peace, are more likely to produce the desired effect.

Thomas Jefferson

Peace, War, Believe

Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution”, p.152, Algora Publishing

Up until the late unpleasantness of the Civil war, then, the right of secession was more or less taken for granted in many quarters, and there has never been any amendment or even a Supreme Court decision saying it's improper. - Samual Francis, Secession May Be Legal But Not Expedient, Conservative Chronicles If there be any among us who wish to dissolve the Union or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed, as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.

Thomas Jefferson

War, Taken, Errors

It is my disposition to maintain peace until its condition shall be made less tolerable than that of war itself.

Thomas Jefferson

War, Political, Made

Thomas Jefferson (1943). “Thomas Jefferson: selections from his writings edited, with an introduction”

The President is bound to stop at the limits prescribed by our Constitution and law to the authorities in his hands, [and this] would apply in an occasion of peace as well as war.

Thomas Jefferson

War, Hands, Law

I have ever deemed it fundamental for the United States never to take active part in the quarrels of Europe.... They are nations of eternal war.

Thomas Jefferson

War, Europe, United States

Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs, Correspondence, and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Late President of the United States”, p.375

The power of declaring war being with the Legislature, the Executive should do nothing necessarily committing them to decide for war in preference of non-intercourse, which will be preferred by a great many.

Thomas Jefferson

War, Great Men, Preference

Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.213, Algora Publishing

I love peace, and am anxious that we should give the world still another useful lesson, by showing to them other modes of punishing injuries than by war, which is as much a punishment to the punisher as to the sufferer.

Thomas Jefferson

Peace, War, Punishment

Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.135, Algora Publishing

War has been avoided from a due sense of the miseries, and the demoralization it produces, and of the superior blessings of a state of peace and friendship with all mankind.

Thomas Jefferson

Peace, War, Blessing

Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.236, Algora Publishing

I value peace, and I should unwillingly see any event take place which would render war a necessary resource.

Thomas Jefferson

Peace, War, Events

One war, such as that of our Revolution, is enough for one life.

Thomas Jefferson

Peace, War, Revolution

Thomas Jefferson, J. Jefferson Looney (2004). “The Papers of Thomas Jefferson: 1 October 1814 to 31 August 1815”, p.168, Princeton University Press