May it be to the world... to assume the blessings and security of self-government. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act… — 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
Take more pleasure in giving what is best to another than in having it for yourself, and then all the world will… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
On the dogmas of religion, as distinguished from moral principles, all mankind, from the beginning of the world to this day, have… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
An hereditary aristocracy... will change the form of our governments from the best to the worst in the world. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
You have not been mistaken in supposing my views and feeling to be in favor of the abolition of war. Of my… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Perfect happiness, I believe, was never intended by the Deity to be the lot of one of his creatures in this world;… — 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
Our cause is just. Our union is perfect. ... With hearts fortified ... we most solemnly, before God and the world, declare… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I have recently been examining all the known superstitions of the world and do not find in our particular superstition [Christianity] one… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
There is not one redeeming feature in our superstition of Christianity. It has made one half the world fools, and the other… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I love peace, and am anxious that we should give the world still another useful lesson, by showing to them other modes… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
So inscrutable is the arrangement of causes and consequences in this world, that a two-penny duty on tea, unjustly imposed in a… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[I]t seems that the Cannibals of Europe are going to eat one another again. A war between Russia and Turkey is like… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
We do, then, most solemnly before God and the world declare that regardless of every consequence, at the risk of every distress,… — 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 good opinion of mankind, like the lever of Archimedes, with the given fulcrum, moves the world. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
You see I am an enthusiast on the subject of the arts. But it is an enthusiasm of which I am not… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If by religion we are to understand sectarian dogmas, in which no two of them agree, then your exclamation on that hypothesis… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I am ever unwilling that [peace] should be disturbed as long as the rights and interests of the nations can be preserved.… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and third time, till… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Under the law of nature, all men are born free, every one comes into the world with a right to his own… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Even in Europe a change has sensibly taken place in the mind of man. Science has liberated the ideas of those who… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
What has been the effect of coericion [sic]? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
In a world which furnishes so many employments which are useful, and so many which are amusing, it is our own fault… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The world is indebted for all triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity over error and oppression. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I have examined all of the known superstitions of the world and i do not find our superstitions of Christianity one redeeming… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The example of changing a constitution by assembling the wise men of the state, instead of assembling armies, will be worth as… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The history of his present majesty, is a history of unremitting injuries and usurpationsall of which have in direct object the establishment… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I do most anxiously wish to see the highest degrees of education given to the higher degrees of genius and to all… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage, with my books, my family, and a few old friends, dining… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I leave the world and its affairs to the young and energetic, and resign myself to their care, of whom I have… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I duly acknowledge that I have gone through a long life, with fewer circumstances of affliction than are the lot of most… — 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
Of publishing a book on religion, my dear sir, I never had an idea. I should as soon think of writing for… — 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
![“You have not been mistaken in supposing my views and feeling to be in favor of the abolition of war. Of my dispos[i]tion to maintain peace until its condition shall be made less tolerable than that of war itself, the world has had proofs, and more, perhaps, than it has approved. I hope it is…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/77f/thomas-jefferson-43_abolition_you-have-not-been-mistaken-in-supposing_184816.jpg)
![“What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth.... [Instead] reason and persuasion are the only practicable instruments. To make way for these, free enquiry must be indulged; and how can we wish…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4a4/thomas-jefferson-43_earth_what-has-been-the-effect-of-coercion-to_238945.jpg)
![“I have recently been examining all the known superstitions of the world and do not find in our particular superstition [Christianity] one redeeming feature.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d1f/thomas-jefferson-43_atheism_i-have-recently-been-examining-all-the-k_384136.jpg)
![“[I]t seems that the Cannibals of Europe are going to eat one another again. A war between Russia and Turkey is like the battle of the kite and snake; whichever destroys the other, leaves a destroyer the less for the world.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f1d/thomas-jefferson-43_battle_i-t-seems-that-the-cannibals-of-europe-a_505685.jpg)
![“I am ever unwilling that [peace] should be disturbed as long as the rights and interests of the nations can be preserved. But whensoever hostile aggressions on these require a resort to war, we must meet our duty and convince the world that we are just friends and brave enemies.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f27/thomas-jefferson-43_aggression_i-am-ever-unwilling-that-peace-should-be_563504.jpg)
![“What has been the effect of coericion [sic]? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and errors all over the earth... [Instead] reason and persuasion are the only practicable instruments. To make way for these, free inquiry must be indulged; and how can…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/805/thomas-jefferson-43_earth_what-has-been-the-effect-of-coericion-si_851023.jpg)
![“In a world which furnishes so many employments which are useful, and so many which are amusing, it is our own fault if we ever know what ennui [boredom] is, or if we are ever driven to the miserable resource of gaming, which corrupts our dispositions, and teaches us a habit of hostility against…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/405/thomas-jefferson-43_amusing_in-a-world-which-furnishes-so-many-emplo_1221724.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)
![“[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)
