[We should be] determined... to sever ourselves from the union we so much value rather than give up the rights of self-government...… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or… — 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
By a declaration of rights, I mean one which shall stipulate freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of commerce against… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[The purpose of a written constitution is] to bind up the several branches of government by certain laws, which, when they transgress,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
That these are our grievances which we have thus laid before his majesty, with that freedom of language and sentiment which becomes… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
To instruct the mass of our citizens in these, their rights, interests and duties, as men and citizens...this brings us to the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Perhaps it will be found that to obtain a just republic (and it is to secure our just rights that we resort… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Religious institutions that use government power in support of themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths, or of no… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
In America, no other distinction between man and man had ever been known but that of persons in office exercising powers by… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be incorporated in the Union of the United States, and admitted as soon as possible,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
May [our Declaration of Independence] be to the world, what I believe it will be (to some parts sooner, to others later,… — 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
How to check these unconstitutional invasions of rights by the Federal judiciary? Not by impeachment in the first instance, but by a… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
There are two amendments only which I am anxious for: 1. A bill of rights, which it is so much the interest… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I hold it that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The following [addition to the Bill of Rights] would have pleased me: The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The error seems not sufficiently eradicated, that the operations of the mind, as well as the acts of the body, are subject… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The States should be watchful to note every material usurpation on their rights; to denounce them as they occur in the most… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If, then, the control of the people over the organs of their government be the measure of its republicanism, and I confess… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The people of every country are the only safe guardians of their own rights, and are the only instruments which can be… — 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
The principles on which we engaged, of which the charter of our independence is the record, were sanctioned by the laws of… — 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
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
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
![“[We should be] determined... to sever ourselves from the union we so much value rather than give up the rights of self-government... in which alone we see liberty, safety and happiness.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/afb/thomas-jefferson-43_determined_we-should-be-determined-to-sever-ourselv_2791539.jpg)
![“[The purpose of a written constitution is] to bind up the several branches of government by certain laws, which, when they transgress, their acts shall become nullities; to render unnecessary an appeal to the people, or in other words a rebellion, on every infraction of their rights, on the peril…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/867/thomas-jefferson-43_acquiescence_the-purpose-of-a-written-constitution-is_244689.jpg)
![“May [our Declaration of Independence] be to the world, what I believe it will be (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all), the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b66/thomas-jefferson-43_assuming_may-our-declaration-of-independence-be-t_1692808.jpg)
![“The following [addition to the Bill of Rights] would have pleased me: The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or otherwise to publish anything but false facts affecting injuriously the life, liberty or reputation of others, or affecting the peace of the…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a40/thomas-jefferson-43_bill-of-rights_the-following-addition-to-the-bill-of-ri_638662.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/img-quotes/0f1/thomas-jefferson-43_able_students-of-reading-writing-and-common-a_1559038.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)
