Authors:

Thomas Jefferson Quotes - Page 43

All Quotes 4th Of July Abundance Abuse Accountability Acting Adoption Show more...
Yet the hour of emancipation is advancing ... this enterprise is for the young; for those who can follow it up, and bear it through to it's consummation. It shall have all my prayers, and these are the only weapons of

Yet the hour of emancipation is advancing ... this enterprise is for the young; for those who can follow it up, and bear it through to it's consummation. It shall have all my prayers, and these are the only weapons of an old man.

Thomas Jefferson
Prayer, Men, President
Thomas Jefferson (1977). “The Portable Thomas Jefferson”, p.432, Penguin

It is in the love of one's family only that heartfelt happiness is known.

Thomas Jefferson
Happiness, Heartfelt, Known
Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.176, Rowman & Littlefield

... the common law existed while the Anglo-Saxons were yet pagans, at a time when they had never yet heard the name of Christ pronounced or knew that such a character existed.

Thomas Jefferson
Character, Law, Names
Thomas Jefferson (1855). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence. Reports and opinions while secretary of state”, p.359

Experience has taught me that manufacturers are now as necessary to our independence as to our comfort.

Thomas Jefferson
Independence, Comfort, Taught

The mobs of great cities add just so much to the support of pure government as sores do to the strength of the human body.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, Cities, Support
Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia II, Correspondence 1782-1786”, p.86, Cosimo, Inc.

I shall rejoin myself to my native country, with new attachments, and with exaggerated esteem for its advantages; for though there is less wealth there, there is more freedom, more ease, and less misery.

Thomas Jefferson
Country, Attachment, America
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs Corespondence and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson Late, President of the United States: Now First Published the Original Manuscripts”, p.312

I leave to others the sublime delights of riding in the storm, better pleased with sound sleep & a warmer berth below it encircled, with the society of neighbors, friends & fellow laborers of the earth rather than with spies & sycophants ... I have no ambition to govern men. It is a painful and thankless office.

Thomas Jefferson
Ambition, Sleep, Men
Thomas Jefferson, Saul Kussiel Padover (1956). “A Jefferson profile as revealed in his letters”

All men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Thomas Jefferson
Pursuit Of Happiness, Men, Liberty

What an augmentation of the field for jobbing, speculating, plundering, office-building and office-hunting would be produced by an assumption of all the state powers into the hands of the general government.

Thomas Jefferson
Hunting, Government, Hands
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs, Correspondence, and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Late President of the United States”, p.445

But, you may ask, if the two departments [i.e., federal and state] should claim each the same subject of power, where is the common umpire to decide ultimately between them? In cases of little importance or urgency, the prudence of both parties will keep them aloof from the questionable ground; but if it can neither be avoided nor compromised, a convention of the States must be called to ascribe the doubtful power to that department which they may think best.

Thomas Jefferson
Party, Thinking, Umpires

The uniform tenor of a man's life furnishes better evidence of what he has said or done on any particular occasion than the word of any enemy.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, Gossip, Enemy
Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.51, Modern Library

History has informed us that bodies of men as well as individuals are susceptible of the spirit of tyranny.

Thomas Jefferson
Men, History, Body
Thomas Jefferson (1774). “A summary view of the rights of British America: Set forth in some resolutions intended for the inspection of the present delegates of the people of Virginia, now in convention ...”, p.7

The only security of all is in a free press. The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to. It is necessary, to keep he waters pure.

Thomas Jefferson
Water, Agitation, Public Opinion
Letter to Marquis de Lafayette, 4 Nov. 1823

I am anxious to see the doctrine of one god commenced in our state. But the population of my neighborhood is too slender, and is too much divided into other sects to maintain any one preacher well. I must therefore be contented to be an Unitarian by myself, although I know there are many around me who would become so, if once they could hear the questions fairly stated.

Thomas Jefferson
Atheism, Population, Doctrine
Thomas Jefferson (1899). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson”

I'd rather have newspapers and no government than government and no newspapers.

Thomas Jefferson
Government, Newspapers

I have learnt to expect that it will rarely fall to the lot of imperfect man to retire from this station with the reputation and the favor which bring him into it.

Thomas Jefferson
Fall, Men, Favors
Thomas Jefferson, Jean M. Yarbrough (1963). “The Essential Jefferson”, p.58, Hackett Publishing

That the several states who formed that instrument, being sovereign and independent, have the unquestionable right to judge of its infraction; and that a nullification, by those sovereignties, of all unauthorized acts done under colour of that instrument, is the rightful remedy.

Thomas Jefferson
Independent, Judging, Nullification

The moral sense, or conscience, is as much part of a man as his leg or arm. It is given to all in a stronger or weaker degree.. It may be strengthened by exercise.

Thomas Jefferson
Educational, Exercise, Men
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies from the papers of T. Jefferson”

The evils which of necessity encompass the life of man are sufficiently numerous. Why should we add to them by voluntarily distressing and destroying one another? Peace, brothers, is better than war. In a long and bloody war, we lose many friends, and gain nothing. Let us then live in peace and friendship together, doing to each other all the good we can.

Thomas Jefferson
Peace, Brother, War
Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution”, p.163, Algora Publishing

We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honour.

Thomas Jefferson
Life, Unalienable Rights, Inalienable Rights
Declaration of Independence (1776)

The eyes of our citizens are not sufficiently open to the true cause of our distress. They ascribe them to everything but their true cause, the banking system

Thomas Jefferson
Eye, Citizens, Banking

The lamp of war is kindled here, not to be extinguished but by torrents of blood.

Thomas Jefferson
War, Blood, Lamps
Thomas Jefferson (1999). “Jefferson Abroad”

And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

Thomas Jefferson
God, Support, Independence
Declaration of Independence (1776)

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

Thomas Jefferson
People, Office, Substance
Declaration of Independence (1776)

There are two subjects, indeed, which I shall claim a right to further as long as I breathe: the public education, and the sub-division of counties into wards. I consider the continuance of republican government as absolutely hanging on these two hooks.

Thomas Jefferson
Education, Government, Two
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies: From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson”, p.239