Thomas Jefferson (?) Quotes

Men are disposed to live honestly, if the means of doing so are open to them.

Principle will, in... most... cases open the way for us to correct conclusion.

The human character, we believe, requires in general constant and immediate control to prevent its being biased from right by the seductions of self-love.

One insult pocketed soon produces another.

The sickly, weakly, timid man fears the people, and is a Tory by nature. The healthy, strong and bold cherishes them, and is formed a Whig by nature.

We have already given in example one effectual check to the dog of war by transferring the power of letting him loose from the Executive to the Legislative body

Music...This is the favorite passion of my soul.

Tobacco is a culture productive of infinite wretchedness.

Fear can only prevail when victims are ignorant of the facts.

The law for religious freedom... [has]put down the aristocracy of the clergy and restored to the citizen the freedom of the mind.

All the world would be Christian if they were taught the pure Gospel of Christ!.

The fortune of our lives depends on employing well the short period of our youth.

With all the imperfections of our present government, it is without comparison the best existing, or that ever did exist.

A determination never to do what is wrong, prudence, and good-humor, will go far toward securing to you the estimation of the world.

It is an essential attribute of the jurisdiction of every country to preserve peace, to punish acts in breach of it, and to restore property taken by force within its limits.

The introduction of so powerful an agent as steam [to a carriage on wheels] will make a great change in the situation of man.

You see I am an enthusiast on the subject of the arts.

If you are obliged to neglect any thing, let it be your chemistry. It is the least useful and the least amusing to a country gentleman of all the ordinary branches of science.

When tempted to do any thing in secret, ask yourself if you would do it in public.

Congress has scarcely any thing to employ them, and complain that the place [Washington, D.C.] is remarkably dull.

Our business is to have great credit and to use it little.

The cutting of heads is become so much a la mode, that one is apt to feel of a morning whether their own is on their shoulders.

Do not write me studied letters but ramble as you please.

If your letters are as long as the bible, they will appear short to me. Only let them be brim full of affection.

While old men feel sensibly enough their own advance in years, they do not sufficiently recollect it in those whom they have seenyoung.

If you have to eat crow, eat it while it's young and tender.

No society is so precious as that of one’s own family.

The benefit of even limited monopolies is too doubtful, to be opposed to that of their general suppression.

My general plan would be to make the States one as to everything connected with foreign nations and several as to everything purely domestic.

Our ancient laws expressly declare that those who are but delegates themselves shall not delegate to others powers which require judgment and integrity in their exercise.

If I could not go to heaven with but a party, I would not go there at all. Therefore, I am not of the party of federalists. But I am much further from that of the anti-federalists.

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

The present generation has the same right of self-government which the past one has exercised for itself.

The opinions of men should not be the object of any government. Our civil rights are no more dependent on our religious beliefs than they are dependent upon our thoughts about geometry or physics!

Religion, morality, and knowledge are necessary for good government... Therefore schools and the means of educating the people should always be encouraged.

Question boldly even the existence of God.

If the happiness of the mass of mankind can be secured at the expense of a little tempest now and then, or even of a little blood, it will be a precious purchase.

I believe in good luck, and the harder I work and the more I believe in myself, the luckier I get.

I have done for my country and for all mankind, all that I could do, and I now resign my soul, without fear, to my God - my daughter to my country.

A superintending power to maintain the Universe in its course and order.

The variety of opinions leads to questions. Questions lead to truth.

Truth can stand by itself...If there be but one right [religion], and [Christianity] that one, we should wish to see the nine hundred and ninety-nine wandering sects gathered into the fold of truth.

There is preparing, I hope, under the auspices of heaven, a way for a total emancipation.

The best defense of democracy is an informed electorate.

I am a real Christian, that is to say, a cisciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of our Creator.

The expedition of Messrs. Lewis & Clarke for exploring the river Missouri, & the best communication from that to the Pacific ocean, has had all the success which could have been expected.

Earnestly recommended to all officers and soldiers, diligently to attend divine services.

I find that he is happiest of whom the world says least, good or bad.

...in war, they will kill some of us; we shall destroy all of them

Health, learning and virtue will ensure your happiness; they will give you a quiet conscience, private esteem and public honour.