In a virtuous government, and more especially in times like these, public offices are what they should be - burdens to those… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If we believe that he [Jesus Christ]really countenanced the follies, the falsehoods, and the charlatanisms, which his biographers [writers of the New… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The best (remedy) I can devise would be to give future commissions to (federal) judges for six years with a re-appointability by… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
What an augmentation of the field for jobbing, speculating, plundering, office-building and office-hunting would be produced by an assumption of all the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle...… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Political dissension is doubtless a less evil than the lethargy of despotism: but still it is a great evil, and it would… — 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
If we could believe that Jesus...countenanced the follies, falsehoods and charlatanisms which his biographers father on him, ...the conclusion would be irresistible...that… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
My general plan would be to make the States one as to everything connected with foreign nations and several as to everything… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The instability of our laws is really an immense evil. I think it would be well to provide in our constitutions that… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Many of the opposition [to the new Federal Constitution] wish to take from Congress the power of internal taxation. Calculation has convinced… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Education is here placed among the articles of public care, not that it would be proposed to take its ordinary branches out… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Every State has a natural right in cases not within the compact (casus non faederis) to nullify of their own authority all… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Thomas Jefferson asked himself “In what country on earth would you rather live ” He first answered “Certainly in my own where… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Many are the exercises of power reserved to the States wherein a uniformity of proceeding would be advantageous to all. Such are… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
So, ask the travelled inhabitant of any nation, in what country on earth would you rather live? — Certainly, in my own,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I considered the British as our natural enemies, and as the only nation on earth who wished us ill from the bottom… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I do love this people [the French] with all my heart, and think that with a better religion and a better form… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Was the government to prescribe to us our medicine and diet, our bodies would be in such keeping as our souls are… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
France, freed from that monster, Bonaparte, must again become the most agreeable country on earth. It would be the second choice of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The objects of this primary education . . . would be . . . to form the statesmen, legislators and judges, on… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[Emigrants] will bring with them the principles of the governments they leave, imbibed in their early youth; or, if able to throw… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I considered 4 of these bills [of the revised code of Virginia] as forming a system by which every fibre would be… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
To history therefore I must refer for answer, in which it would be an unhappy passage indeed, which should shew by what… — 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