“No body wishes more than I do to see such proofs as you exhibit, that nature has given to our black brethren,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
In the fevered state of our country, no good can ever result from any attempt to set one of these fiery zealots… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[If a book were] very innocent, and one which might be confided to the reason of any man; not likely to be… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The main objects of all science, the freedom and happiness of man. . . . [are] the sole objects of all legitimate… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I believe we may lessen the danger of buying and selling votes, by making the number of voters too great for any… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Can one generation bind another, and all others, in succession forever? I think not. The Creator has made the earth for the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Under the law of nature, all men are born free, every one comes into the world with a right to his own… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
To preserve the freedom of the human mind then and freedom of the press, every spirit should be ready to devote itself… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Born in the same land, we ought to live as brothers, doing to each other all the good we can, and not… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the ark of the Covenant, too sacred to be touched.… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The evils which of necessity encompass the life of man are sufficiently numerous. Why should we add to them by voluntarily distressing… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I view great cities as pestilential to the morals, the health and the liberties of man. True, they nourish some of the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The evidence of [the] natural right [of expatriation], like that of our right to life, liberty, the use of our faculties, the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
And where else will [Hume,] this degenerate son of science, this traitor to his fellow men, find the origin of just powers,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far. The Europeans value themselves on having subdued the horse to… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I am entirely persuaded that the agitations of the public mind advance its powers, and that at every vibration between the points… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Where the principle of difference [between political parties] is as substantial and as strongly pronounced as between the republicans and the monocrats… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Man once surrendering his reason, has no remaining guard against absurdities the most monstrous, and like a ship without rudder, is the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
His system of morality was the most benevolent and sublime probably that has been ever taught, and consequently more perfect than those… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
What has destroyed liberty and the rights of man in every government which has ever existed under the sun? The generalizing and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Never [enter] into dispute or argument with another. I never yet saw an instance of one of two disputants convincing the other… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens . . . There has never… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them;… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Truth will do well enough if left to shift for herself. She seldom has received much aid from the power of great… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. . . . We might as well… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
In every free and deliberating society, there must, from the nature of man, be opposite parties, and violent dissensions and discords; and… — 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
To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Our Constitution... has not left the religion of its citizens under the power of its public functionaries, were it possible that any… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Books constitute capital. A library book lasts as long as a house, for hundreds of years. It is not, then, an article… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors? Fallible men; men governed by bad passions, by private as well as… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
No man complains of his neighbor for ill management of his affairs, for an error in sowing his land, or marrying his… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
When I hear another express an opinion which is not mine, I say to myself, he has a right to his opinion,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Those who live by mystery & charlatanerie, fearing you would render them useless by simplifying the Christian philosophy - the most sublime… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The man who loves his country on its own account, and not merely for its trappings of interest or power, can never… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The precepts of philosophy and of the Hebrew code, laid hold of actions only. (Jesus) pushed his scrutinies into the heart of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Religion is a subject on which I have ever been most scrupulously reserved. I have considered it as a matter between every… — 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
![“[If a book were] very innocent, and one which might be confided to the reason of any man; not likely to be much read if let alone, but if persecuted, it will be generally read. Every man in the United States will think it a duty to buy a copy, in vindication of his right to buy and to read what he…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/ca5/thomas-jefferson-43_book_if-a-book-were-very-innocent-and-one-whi_1766472.jpg)
![“The main objects of all science, the freedom and happiness of man. . . . [are] the sole objects of all legitimate government. A plaque with this quotation, with the first phrase omitted, is in the stairwell of the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/a78/thomas-jefferson-43_firsts_the-main-objects-of-all-science-the-free_1587799.jpg)
![“The evidence of [the] natural right [of expatriation], like that of our right to life, liberty, the use of our faculties, the pursuit of happiness, is not left to the feeble and sophistical investigations of reason, but is impressed on the sense of every man. We do not claim these under the…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/ad1/thomas-jefferson-43_charter_the-evidence-of-the-natural-right-of-exp_2308565.jpg)
![“And where else will [Hume,] this degenerate son of science, this traitor to his fellow men, find the origin of just powers, if not in the majority of the society? Will it be in the minority? Or in an individual of that minority?” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/48f/thomas-jefferson-43_degenerates_and-where-else-will-hume-this-degenerate_2857809.jpg)
![“Where the principle of difference [between political parties] is as substantial and as strongly pronounced as between the republicans and the monocrats of our country, I hold it as honorable to take a firm and decided part and as immoral to pursue a middle line, as between the parties of honest…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/00d/thomas-jefferson-43_country_where-the-principle-of-difference-betwee_1164575.jpg)
![“Never [enter] into dispute or argument with another. I never yet saw an instance of one of two disputants convincing the other by argument. I have seen many on their getting warm, becoming rude and shooting one another.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/5a2/thomas-jefferson-43_argument_never-enter-into-dispute-or-argument-wit_284944.jpg)
