To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The interests of the States... ought to be made joint in every possible instance in order to cultivate the idea of our… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The fact is that one new idea leads to another, that to a third and so on through a course of time,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
What but education has advanced us beyond the condition of our indigenous neighbors? And what chains them to their present state of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is always better to have no ideas than false ones; to believe nothing, than to believe what is wrong. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I should . . . prefer swallowing one incomprehensibility rather than two. It requires one effort only to admit the single incomprehensibility… — 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
Of distinction by birth or badge, [Americans] had no more idea than they had of the mode of existence in the moon… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Even in Europe a change has sensibly taken place in the mind of man. Science has liberated the ideas of those who… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The fantastical idea of virtue and the public good being a sufficient security to the state against the commission of crimes, which… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
One of my favorite ideas is, never to keep an unnecessary soldier. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Where strictness of grammar does not weaken expression, it should be attended to. . . . But where, by small grammatical negligences,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Of publishing a book on religion, my dear sir, I never had an idea. I should as soon think of writing for… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The idea is quite unfounded that on entering into society we give up any natural rights. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Societies exist under three forms sufficiently distinguishable. 1. Without government, as among our Indians. 2. Under governments wherein the will of every… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The idea of creating a national bank I do not concur in, because it seems now decided that Congress has not that… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I join you therefore in branding as cowardly the idea that the human mind is incapable of further advances. — 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
I had no idea, however, that in Pennsylvania, the cradle of toleration and freedom of religion, it [fanaticism] could have arisen to… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The Gothic idea that we were to look backwards instead of forwards for the improvement of the human mind, and to recur… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
My reason for fixing them in office for a term of years, rather than for life, was that they might have an… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“Even in Europe a change has sensibly taken place in the mind of man. Science has liberated the ideas of those who… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If NATURE has made any one thing less susceptible than all others of exclusive property, it is the action of the thinking… — 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 Image
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 Image
[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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
“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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
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 Image
![“Of distinction by birth or badge, [Americans] had no more idea than they had of the mode of existence in the moon or planets. They had heard only that there were such, and knew that they must be wrong.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/896/thomas-jefferson-43_badges_of-distinction-by-birth-or-badge-america_767499.jpg){kind=icon}
![“I had no idea, however, that in Pennsylvania, the cradle of toleration and freedom of religion, it [fanaticism] could have arisen to the height you describe. This must be owing to the growth of Presbyterianism. The blasphemy of the five points of Calvin, and the impossibility of defending them…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c6e/thomas-jefferson-43_blasphemy_i-had-no-idea-however-that-in-pennsylvan_2564008.jpg)
![“[States and the Federal government are] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch of the same government.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/401/thomas-jefferson-43_branches_states-and-the-federal-government-are-co_2619.jpg)
![“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00c/thomas-jefferson-43_change_single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-t_5515.jpg)
![“Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear their leading you out of [any difficult situation] in the easiest manner possible...” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ebe/thomas-jefferson-43_difficult_though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one_9828.jpg)
