If the obstacles of bigotry and priestcraft can be surmounted, we may hope that common sense will suffice to do everything else. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I have great confidence in the common sense of mankind in general. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It was more in our spirit to let things come to rights by the plain dictates of common sense than by the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Common sense is the foundation of all authorities, of the laws themselves, and of their construction. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Difficulties indeed sometimes arise; but common sense and honest intentions will generally steer through them. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Let common sense and common honesty have fair play, and they will soon set things to rights. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I can never fear that things will go far wrong where common sense has fair play. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
No race of kings has ever presented above one man of common sense in twenty generations. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The art of governing consists simply of being honest, exercising common sense, following principle, and doing what is right and just. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding and should, therefore, be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense. Their meaning… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The commotions that have taken place in America, as far as they are yet known to me, offer nothing threatening. They are… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of . . . but to place before mankind the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
[States and the Federal government are] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
“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,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
