Thomas Jefferson

Politician, Founding Father

Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, advocating for liberty and democracy.

Born
April 13, 1743
Died
July 4, 1826
Quotes
1.8K
Rank
#181

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Thomas Jefferson quotes (page 66 of 91)

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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"The banks themselves were doing business on capitals three-fourths of which were fictitious. This fictitious capital... is now to be lost, and to fall on somebody; it must take on those who have property to meet it, and probably on the less cautious part, who, not aware of the impending catastrophe, have suffered themselves to contract, or to be in debt, and must now sacrifice their property of a value many times the amount of the debt. We have been truly sowing the wind, and are now reaping the whirlwind."

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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"This doctrine ['that the condition of man cannot be ameliorated, that what has been must ever be, and that to secure ourselves where we are we must tread with awful reverence in the footsteps of our fathers']is the genuine fruit of the alliance between Church and State, the tenants of which finding themselves but too well in their present condition, oppose all advances which might unmask their usurpations and monopolies of honors, wealth and power, and fear every change as endangering the comforts they now hold."

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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"The value of science to a republican people, the security it gives to liberty by enlightening the minds of its citizens, the protection it affords against foreign power, the virtue it inculcates, the just emulation of the distinction it confers on nations foremost in it; in short, its identification with power, morals, order and happiness (which merits to it premiums of encouragement rather than repressive taxes), are considerations [that should] always [be] present and [bear] with their just weight."

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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"The diffusion of information and the arraignment of all abuses at the bar of public reason, I deem [one of] the essential principles of our government, and consequently [one of] those which ought to shape its administration."

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"The information of the people at large can alone make them the safe as they are the sole depositary of our political and religious freedom."

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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"Those who would trade safety for freedom deserve neither."

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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"I pledge undying hostility to any government restrictions on the free minds of the people."

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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"Our ancestors ... possessed a right, which nature has given to all men, of departing from the country in which chance, not choice has placed them."

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"Having always observed that public works are much less advantageously managed than the same are by private hands, I have thought it better for the public to go to market for whatever it wants which is to be found there; for there competition brings it down to the minimum value."

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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"The power of making war often prevents it."

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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"If science produces no better fruits than tyranny... I would rather wish our country to be ignorant, honest and estimable as our neighbouring savages are."

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"Reason and free inquiry are the only effective agents against error. Give a loose to them, they will support the true religion by bringing every false one to their tribunal, to the test of their investigation. They are the natural enemies of error and error only. Had not the Roman government permitted free inquiry, Christianity could never have been introduced. Had not free inquiry been indulged at the era of the Reformation, the corruption of Christianity could not have been purged away."

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"Resolved ... that it would be a dangerous delusion were a confidence in the men of our choice to silence our fears for the safety of our rights: that confidence is everywhere the parent of despotism - free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence."

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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"I extremely believe in luck, and I discovered more hard work, your luck as much"

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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"The persons and property of our citizens are entitled to the protection of our government in all places where they may lawfully go."

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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"The bulk of mankind are schoolboys through life."

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"If the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at stake."

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"I hold it to be one of the distinguishing excellences of elective over hereditary successions that the talents which nature has provided in sufficient proportion, should be selected by the society for the govenment of their affairs, rather than that this should be be transmitted through the loins of knaves and fools passing from the debauches of the table to those of the bed."

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"The clergy believe that any power confided in me will be exerted in opposition to their schemes, and they believe rightly."

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