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

Quote collection

Thomas Jefferson quotes (page 8 of 91)

1.8K quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"To all of which is added a selection from the elementary schools of subjects of the most promising genius, whose parents are too poor to give them further education, to be carried at the public expense through the college and university. The object is to bring into action that mass of talents which lies buried in poverty in every country, for want of the means of development, and thus give activity to a mass of mind, which, in proportion to our population, shall be double or treble of what it is in most countries."

Read quote 51 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"A little rebellion now and then... is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."

Read quote 50 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"I hold the precepts of Jesus as delivered by Himself, to be the most pure, benevolent and sublime which have ever been preached to man."

Read quote 50 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"[T]he States can best govern our home concerns and the general government our foreign ones. I wish, therefore . . . never to see all offices transferred to Washington, where, further withdrawn from the eyes of the people, they may more secretly be bought and sold at market."

Read quote 50 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"It is in our lives and not our words that our religion must be read."

Read quote 50 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits."

Read quote 48 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"When angry count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred."

Read quote 46 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"An elective despotism was not the government we fought for, but one which should not only be founded on true free principles, but in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced among general bodies of magistracy, as that no one could transcend their legal limits without being effectually checked and restrained by the others."

Read quote 46 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes. 2. Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise depositary of the public interests. In every country these two parties exist, and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves."

Read quote 46 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories."

Read quote 46 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing."

Read quote 46 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security."

Read quote 45 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable of reading them."

Read quote 45 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"The contest is not between us and them, but between good and evil, and if those who would fight evil adopt the ways of evil, evil wins."

Read quote 44 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own."

Read quote 44 likes