I have learned to be less confident in the conclusions of human reason, and give more credit to the honesty of contrary… — 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
A government held together by the bands of reason only, requires much compromise of opinion. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The good opinion of mankind, like the lever of Archimedes, with the given fulcrum, moves the world. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I see the necessity of sacrificing our opinions sometimes to the opinions of others for the sake of harmony. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is rare that the public sentiment decides immorally or unwisely, and the individual who differs from it ought to distrust and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The opinions of men should not be the object of any government. Our civil rights are no more dependent on our religious… — 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
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
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
But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have been called by different names brethren of the same… — 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
The clergy ... believe that any portion of power confided to me [as President] will be exerted in opposition to their schemes.… — 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
It is (our) duty . . . to pay especial attention to the principles of government which shall be inculcated therein (at… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Almighty God hath created the mind free. All attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens...are a departure from the plan… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Up until the late unpleasantness of the Civil war, then, the right of secession was more or less taken for granted in… — 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… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I have never conceived that having been in public life required me to belie my sentiments, or to conceal them. Opinion and… — 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
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
This formidable censor of the public functionaries [the press], by arraigning them at the tribunal of public opinion, produces reform peaceably, which… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
In the middle ages of Christianity opposition to the State opinions was hushed. The consequence was, Christianity became loaded with all the… — 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
Difference of opinion leads to enquiry, and enquiry to truth; and I am sure...we both value too much the freedom of opinion… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
My opinion is that there would never have been an infidel, if there had never been a priest. The artificial structures they… — 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
I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy,… — 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
The only security of all is in a free press. The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
He alone who walks strict and upright, and who, in matters of opinion, will be contented that others should be as free… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It has been a source of great pain to me to have met with so many among [my] opponents who had not… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of the day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a… — 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
The impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I am convinced that those societies (such as the Native American peoples) which live without government enjoy in their general mass an… — 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
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
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
![“[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/quotes/i/cfa/thomas-jefferson-43_action_t-he-opinion-which-gives-to-the-judges-t_2055401.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/i/641/thomas-jefferson-43_christian_when-in-short-we-shall-have-unlearned-ev_1786682.jpg)
![“The clergy ... believe that any portion of power confided to me [as President] will be exerted in opposition to their schemes. And they believe rightly: for I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. But this is all they have to fear…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/thomas-jefferson-43_altars_the-clergy-believe-that-any-portion-of-p_1301853.jpg)
![“This formidable censor of the public functionaries [the press], by arraigning them at the tribunal of public opinion, produces reform peaceably, which must otherwise be done by revolution. It is also the best instrument for enlightening the mind of man and improving him as a rational, moral, and…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45b/thomas-jefferson-43_civil-rights_this-formidable-censor-of-the-public-fun_2795310.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/i/645/thomas-jefferson-43_agents_reason-and-free-inquiry-are-the-only-eff_1546896.jpg)
![“It has been a source of great pain to me to have met with so many among [my] opponents who had not the liberality to distinguish between political and social opposition; who transferred at once to the person, the hatred they bore to his political opinions.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/290/thomas-jefferson-43_bores_it-has-been-a-source-of-great-pain-to-me_3039333.jpg)
