Common sense is the foundation of all authorities, of the laws themselves, and of their construction. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The execution of the laws is more important than the making of them. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The law for religious freedom... [has]put down the aristocracy of the clergy and restored to the citizen the freedom of the mind. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Laws that forbid the carrying of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
preach, my dear Sir, a crusade against ignorance; establish & improve the law for educating the common people. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Laws abridging the natural right of the citizen should be restrained by rigorous constructions within their narrowest limits. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Knowing that religion does not furnish grosser bigots than law, I expect little from old judges. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is more dangerous that even a guilty person should be punished without the forms of law than that he should escape. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
That these are our grievances which we have thus laid before his majesty, with that freedom of language and sentiment which becomes… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high virtues of a good citizen, but it is not… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
the study of the law is useful in a variety of points of view. it qualifies a man to be useful to… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I discharge every person under punishment or prosecution under the Sedition Law, because I considered, and now consider, that law to be… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The majority, oppressing an individual, is guilty of a crime, abuses its strength, and by acting on the law of the strongest… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The President is bound to stop at the limits prescribed by our Constitution and law to the authorities in his hands, [and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
We lay it down as a fundamental, that laws, to be just, must give a reciprocation of right; that, without this, they… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[T]he opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional and what not, not only for themselves,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Whenever there are in any country uncultivated lands and unemployed poor, it is clear that the laws of property have been so… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The mobs of the great cities add just so much to the support of pure government as sores do to the strength… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Your sect [the Jews] by its sufferings has furnished a remarkable proof of the universal point of religious insolence, inherent in every… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I set out on this ground which I suppose to be self-evident, that the earth belongs in usufruct to the living. .… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[The purpose of a written constitution is] to bind up the several branches of government by certain laws, which, when they transgress,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is left... to the juries, if they think the permanent judges are under any bias whatever in any cause, to take… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I will now add what I do not like. First, the omission of a bill of rights providing clearly and without the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It astonishes me to find... [that so many] of our countrymen... should be contented to live under a system which leaves to… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Certainly one of the highest duties of the citizen is a scrupulous obedience to the laws of the nation. But it is… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The unsuccessful strugglers against tyranny have been the chief martyrs of treason laws in all countries. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
One single object . . . [will merit] the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I consider ethics, as well as religion, as supplements to law in the government of man. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A free people claim their rights as derived from the laws of nature, and not as the gift of their magistrate. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
From the nature of things, every society must at all times possess within itself the sovereign powers of legislation. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Ignorance of the law is no excuse in any country. If it were, the laws would lose their effect, because it can… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Law is often the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
By nature's law, man is at peace with man till some aggression is committed, which, by the same law, authorizes one to… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Is it less dishonest to do what is wrong because it is not expressly prohibited by written law? Let us hope our… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another; and this is all from which the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It has been thought that the people are not competent electors of judges learned in the law. But I do not know… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
And, in general, that branch which is to act ultimately and without appeal on any law is the rightful expositor of 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
![“The law for religious freedom... [has]put down the aristocracy of the clergy and restored to the citizen the freedom of the mind.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/895/thomas-jefferson-43_aristocracy_the-law-for-religious-freedom-has-put-do_60865.jpg)
![“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.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/68b/thomas-jefferson-43_authority_the-president-is-bound-to-stop-at-the-li_1423355.jpg)
![“[T]he opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional and what not, not only for themselves, in their, own sphere of action, but for the Legislature and Executive also in their spheres, would make the Judiciary a despotic branch.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/cfa/thomas-jefferson-43_action_t-he-opinion-which-gives-to-the-judges-t_2055401.jpg)
![“Your sect [the Jews] by its sufferings has furnished a remarkable proof of the universal point of religious insolence, inherent in every sect, disclaimed by all while feeble and practised by all when in power. Our laws have applied the only antidote to this vice, protecting our religions, as they…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/29c/thomas-jefferson-43_antidote_your-sect-the-jews-by-its-sufferings-has_433645.jpg)
![“[The purpose of a written constitution is] to bind up the several branches of government by certain laws, which, when they transgress, their acts shall become nullities; to render unnecessary an appeal to the people, or in other words a rebellion, on every infraction of their rights, on the peril…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/867/thomas-jefferson-43_acquiescence_the-purpose-of-a-written-constitution-is_244689.jpg)
![“It astonishes me to find... [that so many] of our countrymen... should be contented to live under a system which leaves to their governors the power of taking from them the trial by jury in civil cases, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of commerce, the habeas corpus laws, and of…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/d2e/thomas-jefferson-43_army_it-astonishes-me-to-find-that-so-many-of_1421509.jpg)
![“One single object . . . [will merit] the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/934/thomas-jefferson-43_endless_one-single-object-will-merit-the-endless_340610.jpg)
