If the children are untaught, their ignorance and vices will in future life cost us much dearer in their consequences than it… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If the measures which have been pursued are approved by the majority, it is the duty of the minority to acquiesce and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If thinking men would have the courage to think for themselves, and to speak what they think, it would be found they… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Those who labour in the earth are the chosen people of God, if ever he had a chosen, people, whose breasts he… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If virtuous, the government need not fear the fair operation of attack and defense. Nature has given to man no other means… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If the happiness of the mass of mankind can be secured at the expense of a little tempest now and then, or… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
We are sensible of the duty and expediency of submitting our opinions to the will of the majority, and can wait with… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If our legislature does not heartily push our University [of Virginia] we must send our children for education to Kentucky [Transylvania College]… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The days of life are consumed, one by one, without an object beyond the present moment; ever flying from the ennui of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If any doubt has arisen as to me, my country [Virginia] will have my political creed in the form of a "Declaration… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I am anxious to see the doctrine of one god commenced in our state. But the population of my neighborhood is too… — 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
War is not the best engine for us to resort to; nature has given us one in our commerce, which if properly… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The influence over government must be shared among all the people. If every individual which composes their mass participates of the ultimate… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it expects what never was and never will be ... The People cannot… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
What country before ever existed a century and a half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve its liberties if their… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Every society has a right to fix the fundamental principles of its association, and to say to all individuals, that if they… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A government regulating itself by what is wise and just for the many, uninfluenced by the local and selfish views of the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The country is headed toward a single and splendid government of an aristocracy founded on banking institutions and moneyed incorporations and if… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It has also been a great solace to me, to believe that you are engaged in vindicating to posterity the course we… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Who will govern the governors? There is only one force in the nation that can be depended upon to keep the government… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
1.Never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day. 2.Never trouble another for what you can do yourself. 3.Never spend your… — 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
Take care that you never spell a word wrong. Always before you write a word, consider how it is spelled, and, if… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If there be any among us who wish to dissolve the Union or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
On every unauthoritative exercise of power by the legislature must the people rise in rebellion or their silence be construed into a… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If some period be not fixed, either by the Constitution or by practice, to the services of the First Magistrate, his office,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
That this privilege of giving or of withholding our monies is an important barrier against the undue exertion of prerogative, which if… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
All through your life, you'll be faced with making a decision between two things-choose the one that is right. If they are… — 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
When, in short, we shall have unlearned everything which has been taught since his [Jesus'] day, and got back to the pure… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A noiseless course, not meddling with the affairs of others, unattractive of notice, is a mark that society is going on in… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
By... [selecting] the youths of genius from among the classes of the poor, we hope to avail the State of those talents… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error... They are the natural enemies of error, and of error only...… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The best (remedy) I can devise would be to give future commissions to (federal) judges for six years with a re-appointability by… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The principle of the Constitution is that of a separation of legislative, Executive and Judiciary functions, except in cases specified. If this… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[I]n Great-Britain it is said that their constitution relies on the house of commons for honesty, and the lords for wisdom; whichwould… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
He who made us would have been a pitiful bungler, if he had made the rules of our moral conduct a matter… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
One imputation in particular has been repeated till it seems as if some at least believed it: that I am an enemy… — 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
Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
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 Image
“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 Image
![“If our legislature does not heartily push our University [of Virginia] we must send our children for education to Kentucky [Transylvania College] or Cambridge [Harvard College]. The latter will return them to us as fanatics and tories, the former will keep them to add to their population.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/191/thomas-jefferson-43_add_if-our-legislature-does-not-heartily-pus_1816270.jpg)
![“If any doubt has arisen as to me, my country [Virginia] will have my political creed in the form of a "Declaration &c." which I was lately directed to draw. This will give decisive proof that my own sentiment concurred with the vote they instructed us to give.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0a5/thomas-jefferson-43_country_if-any-doubt-has-arisen-as-to-me-my-coun_1434041.jpg)
![“When, in short, we shall have unlearned everything which has been taught since his [Jesus'] day, and got back to the pure and simple doctrines he inculcated, we shall then be truly and worthily his disciples: and my opinion is that if nothing had ever been added to what flowed purely from his…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/641/thomas-jefferson-43_christian_when-in-short-we-shall-have-unlearned-ev_1786682.jpg)
![“By... [selecting] the youths of genius from among the classes of the poor, we hope to avail the State of those talents which nature has sown as liberally among the poor as the rich, but which perish without use if not sought for and cultivated.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/952/thomas-jefferson-43_class_by-selecting-the-youths-of-genius-from-a_932967.jpg)
![“Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error... They are the natural enemies of error, and of error only... If [free enquiry] be restrained now, the present corruptions will be protected, and new ones encouraged.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/645/thomas-jefferson-43_agents_reason-and-free-inquiry-are-the-only-eff_1546896.jpg)
![“[I]n Great-Britain it is said that their constitution relies on the house of commons for honesty, and the lords for wisdom; whichwould be a rational reliance if honesty were to be bought with money, and if wisdom were hereditary.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/033/thomas-jefferson-43_britain_i-n-great-britain-it-is-said-that-their_143406.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)
