Spirit Quotes by Thomas Jefferson

No man has greater confidence than I have in the spirit of the people, to a rational extent. Whatever they can, they…

— Thomas Jefferson

The spirit of this country is totally adverse to a large military force.

— Thomas Jefferson

A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.

— Thomas Jefferson

The spirit of 1776 is not dead. It had only been slumbering. The body of the American people is substantially republican.

— Thomas Jefferson

History has informed us that bodies of men as well as individuals are susceptible of the spirit of tyranny

— Thomas Jefferson

Beer, if drank with moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit, and promotes health.

— Thomas Jefferson

To unequal privileges among members of the same society the spirit of our nation is, with one accord, adverse.

— Thomas Jefferson

[A] spirit of justice and friendly accomodation...is our duty and our interest to cultivate with all nations.

— Thomas Jefferson

Communities should be planned with an eye to the effect on the human spirit of being continually surrounded by a maximum of…

— Thomas Jefferson

life is of no value but as it brings gratifications. among the most valuable of these is rational society. it informs the…

— Thomas Jefferson

It is true that in the meantime we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war and long…

— Thomas Jefferson

Were I to commence my administration again, the first question I would ask respecting a candidate would be, Does he use ardent…

— Thomas Jefferson

The happiness of society depends so much on preventing party spirit from infecting the common intercourse of life, that nothing should be…

— Thomas Jefferson

The protection of our citizens, the spirit and honor of our country, require that force should be interposed to a certain degree.

— Thomas Jefferson

No nation is drunken where wine is cheap, and none sober where the dearness of wine substitutes ardent spirits as the common…

— Thomas Jefferson

I deplore with you the putrid state into which our newspapers have passed, and the malignity, the vulgarity, and mendacious spirit of…

— Thomas Jefferson

The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance…

— Thomas Jefferson

His [Calvin's] religion was demonism. If ever man worshiped a false God, he did. The being described in his five points is…

— Thomas Jefferson

I should . . . prefer swallowing one incomprehensibility rather than two. It requires one effort only to admit the single incomprehensibility…

— Thomas Jefferson

The principle of the Constitution is that of a separation of legislative, Executive and Judiciary functions, except in cases specified. If this…

— Thomas Jefferson

The mobs of the great cities add just so much to the support of pure government as sores do to the strength…

— Thomas Jefferson

The Greeks by their laws, and the Romans by the spirit of their people, took care to put into the hands of…

— Thomas Jefferson

On every question of construction (of the Constitution) let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect…

— Thomas Jefferson

What country before ever existed a century and a half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve its liberties if their…

— Thomas Jefferson

The functionaries of public power rarely strengthen in their dispositions to abridge it, and an unorganized call for timely amendment is not…

— Thomas Jefferson

The spirit of the times may alter, will alter. Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless... From the conclusion of this…

— Thomas Jefferson

A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true…

— Thomas Jefferson

The selfish spirit of commerce, which knows no country, and feels no passion or principle but that of gain.

— Thomas Jefferson

The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.

— Thomas Jefferson

To preserve the freedom of the human mind then and freedom of the press, every spirit should be ready to devote itself…

— Thomas Jefferson

...is the spirit of the people an infallible, a permanent reliance? ...the spirit of the times may alter, will alter. Our rulers…

— Thomas Jefferson

What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit…

— Thomas Jefferson

Our public credit is good, but the abundance of paper has produced a spirit of gambling in the funds, which has laid…

— Thomas Jefferson

If ever this vast country is brought under a single government, it will be one of the most extensive corruption, indifferent and…

— Thomas Jefferson

The spirit of 1776 is not dead. It has only been slumbering. The body of the American people is substantially republican. But…

— Thomas Jefferson