Thinking Quotes by Thomas Jefferson

An individual, thinking himself injured, makes more noise than a State.

— Thomas Jefferson

Wine brightens the life and thinking of anyone

— Thomas Jefferson

I think all the world would gain by setting commerce at perfect liberty.

— Thomas Jefferson

Everyone has a natural right to choose that vocation in life which he thinks most likely gives him comfortable subsistence.

— Thomas Jefferson

I think our governments will remain virtuous for many centuries; as long as they are chiefly agricultural.

— Thomas Jefferson

I think it is a great error to consider a heavy tax on wines as a tax on luxury. On the contrary,…

— Thomas Jefferson

The worst day in a man's life is when he sits down and begins thinking about how he can get something for…

— Thomas Jefferson

The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our…

— Thomas Jefferson

It is surely time for men to think for themselves, and to throw off the authority of names so artificially magnified.

— Thomas Jefferson

I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious.

— Thomas Jefferson

If thinking men would have the courage to think for themselves, and to speak what they think, it would be found they…

— Thomas Jefferson

I concur with you strictly in your opinion of the comparative merits of atheism and demonism, and really see nothing but the…

— Thomas Jefferson

Of publishing a book on religion, my dear sir, I never had an idea. I should as soon think of writing for…

— Thomas Jefferson

The late rebellion in Massachusetts has given more alarm than I think it should have done. Calculate that one rebellion in thirteen…

— Thomas Jefferson

Our fellow-citizens think they have a right to full information, in a case of such great concernment to them. It is their…

— Thomas Jefferson

It behooves our citizens to be on their guard, to be firm in their principles, and full of confidence in themselves. We…

— Thomas Jefferson

I could think of no worse example for nations abroad, who for the first time were trying to put free electoral procedures…

— Thomas Jefferson

I do love this people [the French] with all my heart, and think that with a better religion and a better form…

— Thomas Jefferson

Speaking one day to Monsieur de Buffon, on the present ardor of chemical inquiry, he affected to consider chemistry but as cookery,…

— Thomas Jefferson

Our [Virginia's] act for freedom of religion is extremely applauded. The Ambassadors and ministers of the several nations of Europe resident at…

— Thomas Jefferson

Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw…

— Thomas Jefferson

We established however some, although not all its [self-government] important principles . The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all…

— Thomas Jefferson

But, you may ask, if the two departments [i.e., federal and state] should claim each the same subject of power, where is…

— Thomas Jefferson

I think myself that we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the…

— Thomas Jefferson

The instability of our laws is really an immense evil. I think it would be well to provide in our constitutions that…

— Thomas Jefferson

You have heard of the new chemical nomenclature endeavored to be introduced by Lavoisier, Fourcroy, &c. Other chemists of this country, of…

— 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

With those who wish to think amiss of me, I have learnt to be perfectly indifferent: but where I know a mind…

— Thomas Jefferson

The physician is happy in the attachment of the families in which he practices. All think he has saved one of them,…

— Thomas Jefferson

It is left... to the juries, if they think the permanent judges are under any bias whatever in any cause, to take…

— Thomas Jefferson

among the values of classical learning I estimate the Luxury of reading the Greek & Roman authors in all the beauties of…

— Thomas Jefferson

With respect to our State and federal governments, I do not think their relations correctly understood by foreigners. They generally suppose the…

— Thomas Jefferson

We think, in America, that it is necessary to introduce the people into every department of government, as far as they are…

— Thomas Jefferson

The religion of Jesus is founded in the Unity of God, and this principle chiefly gave it triumph over the rabble of…

— Thomas Jefferson

The future inhabitants of [both] the Atlantic and Mississippi states will be our sons. We think we see their happiness in their…

— Thomas Jefferson

But is an enemy so execrable that tho in captivity his wishes and comforts are to be disregarded and even crossed? I…

— Thomas Jefferson

From forty years' experience of the wretched guess-work of the newspapers of what is not done in open daylight, and of their…

— Thomas Jefferson

I think by far the most important bill in our whole code is that for the diffusion of knowlege among the people.…

— Thomas Jefferson

Among the most inestimable of our blessings is that ... of liberty to worship our Creator in the way we think most…

— Thomas Jefferson

My opinion is that there would never have been an infidel, if there had never been a priest. The artificial structures they…

— Thomas Jefferson