Common sense is the foundation of all authorities, of the laws themselves, and of their construction. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The ocean ... like the air, is the common birth-right of mankind. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I have great confidence in the common sense of mankind in general. — 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
I can never fear that things will go far wrong where common sense has fair play. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
... the common law existed while the Anglo-Saxons were yet pagans, at a time when they had never yet heard the name… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
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
Above all I hope that the education of the common people will be attended to so they won't forget the basic principles… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Civil government being the sole object of forming societies, its administration must be conducted by common consent. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The happiness of society depends so much on preventing party spirit from infecting the common intercourse of life, that nothing should be… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
No nation is drunken where wine is cheap, and none sober where the dearness of wine substitutes ardent spirits as the common… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is better to tolerate the rare instance of a parent refusing to let his child be educated, than to shock the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Above all things I hope the education of the common people will be attended to; convinced that on their good sense we… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The truth is that the want of common education with us is not from our poverty, but from the want of an… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I do verily believe that if the principle were to prevail of a common law being in force in the United States… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I learn with great concern that [one] portion of our frontier so interesting, so important, and so exposed, should be so entirely… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The proscribing any citizen as unworthy the public confidence by laying upon him an incapacity of being called to offices of trust… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
But, you may ask, if the two departments [i.e., federal and state] should claim each the same subject of power, where is… — 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
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
It is (our) duty . . . to pay especial attention to the principles of government which shall be inculcated therein (at… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
All the capital employed in paper speculation is barren and useless, producing, like that on a gaming table, no accession to itself,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is a moot question whether the origin of any kind of property is derived from nature at all. It is agreed… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I... [proposed] three distinct grades of education, reaching all classes. 1. Elementary schools for all children generally, rich and poor. 2. Colleges… — 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
Let common sense and common honesty have fair play, and they will soon set things to rights. — 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
preach, my dear Sir, a crusade against ignorance; establish & improve the law for educating the common people. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Experience (has) long taught me the reasonableness of mutual sacrifices of opinion among those who are to act together for any common… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I wish to see this beverage become common instead of the whiskey which kills sone-third of our citizens and ruins their families. — 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
not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of . . . but to place before mankind the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
By nature's law, every man has a right to seize and retake by force his own property taken from him by another,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Students of reading, writing and common arithmetick . . . Graecian [Greek], Roman, English and American history . . . should be… — 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
![“I learn with great concern that [one] portion of our frontier so interesting, so important, and so exposed, should be so entirely unprovided with common fire-arms. I did not suppose any part of the United States so destitute of what is considered as among the first necessaries of a farm-house.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/thomas-jefferson-43_arms_i-learn-with-great-concern-that-one-port_909914.jpg)
![“But, you may ask, if the two departments [i.e., federal and state] should claim each the same subject of power, where is the common umpire to decide ultimately between them? In cases of little importance or urgency, the prudence of both parties will keep them aloof from the questionable ground…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/thomas-jefferson-43_aloof_but-you-may-ask-if-the-two-departments-i_1638614.jpg)
![“I... [proposed] three distinct grades of education, reaching all classes. 1. Elementary schools for all children generally, rich and poor. 2. Colleges for a middle degree of instruction, calculated for the common purposes of life and such as should be desirable for all who were in easy…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/thomas-jefferson-43_children_i-proposed-three-distinct-grades-of-educ_2306767.jpg)
![“Students of reading, writing and common arithmetick . . . Graecian [Greek], Roman, English and American history . . . should be rendered . . . worthy to receive, and able to guard the sacred deposit of the rights and liberties of their fellow citizens.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/thomas-jefferson-43_able_students-of-reading-writing-and-common-a_1559038.jpg)