All Thomas Jefferson Quotes
- A noiseless course, not meddling with the affairs of others, unattractive of notice, is a mark that society is going on in happiness. If we… Affair
- I hope that we have not labored in vain, and that our experiment will still prove that men can be governed by reason. Experiment
- Truth and reason are eternal. They have prevailed. And they will eternally prevail; however, in times and places they may be overborne for a while… Civil
- Truth will do well enough if left to shift for herself. She seldom has received much aid from the power of great men to whom… Aid
- Everyone must act according to the dictates of his own reason. According
- I have so much confidence in the good sense of man, and his qualifications for self-government, that I am never afraid of the issue where… Afraid
- Ignorance and bigotry, like other insanities, are incapable of self-government. Bigotry
- Every man's reason is his own rightful umpire. This principle, with that of acquiescence in the will of the majority, will preserve us free and… Acquiescence
- I hold it certain that to open the doors of truth and to fortify the habit of testing everything by reason are the most effectual… Certain
- If virtuous, the government need not fear the fair operation of attack and defense. Nature has given to man no other means of sifting the… Attack
- I am not myself apt to be alarmed at innovations recommended by reason. That dread belongs to those whose interests or prejudices shrink from the… Advance
- Where thought is free in its range, we need never fear to hazard what is good in itself. Fear
- Difference of opinion leads to enquiry, and enquiry to truth; and I am sure...we both value too much the freedom of opinion sanctioned by our… Both
- The opinions of men are not the object of civil government, nor under its jurisdiction. Civil
- We ought not to schismatize on either men or measures. Principles alone can justify that. Alone
- I see the necessity of sacrificing our opinions sometimes to the opinions of others for the sake of harmony. Harmony
- He alone who walks strict and upright, and who, in matters of opinion, will be contented that others should be as free as himself and… Acquiesce
- With the same honest views, the most honest men often form different conclusions. Conclusion
- A government held together by the bands of reason only, requires much compromise of opinion. Band
- Nothing but good can result from an exchange of information and opinions between those whose circumstances and morals admit no doubt of the integrity of… Admit
- Every man has a commission to admonish, exhort, convince another of error. Admonish
- The Gothic idea that we were to look backwards instead of forwards for the improvement of the human mind, and to recur to the annals… Ancestor
- Error indeed has often prevailed by the assistance of power or force. Truth is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error. Antagonist
- Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error... They are the natural enemies of error, and of error only... If [free enquiry]… Agents
- By oft repeating an untruth, men come to believe it themselves. Believe