Thomas Jefferson

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.

Men Government People Country Law Religious
Born
April 13, 1743
Died
July 4, 1826
Quotes
1.8K
Rank
#181

Quote collection

Thomas Jefferson quotes (page 84 of 91)

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

Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"I am for relying for internal defense on our militia solely till actual invasion, and for such a naval force only as may protect our coasts and harbors from such depredations as we have experienced; and not for a standing army in time of peace which may overawe the public sentiment; nor for a navy which, by its own expenses and the eternal wars in which it will implicate us, will grind us with public burthens and sink us under them."

War Army Navy
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"Louisiana, as ceded by France to the United States, is made a part of the United States; its white inhabitants shall be citizens, and stand, as to their rights and obligations, on the same footing with other citizens of the United States, in analogous situations."

White Rights France
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"No body wishes more than I do to see such proofs as you exhibit, that nature has given to our black brethren, talents equal to those of the other colors of men, and that the appearance of a want of them is owing merely to the degraded condition of their existence, both in Africa & America."

Men Color America
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"What all agree upon is probably right; what no two agree in most probably is wrong."

Two Agree Upon Positive Atheism
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"Nothing was or is farther from my intentions, than to enlist myself as the champion of a fixed opinion, where I have only expressed doubt."

Champion Doubt Opinion
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"My religious reading has long been confined to the moral branch of religion, which is the same in all religions; while in that branch which consists of dogmas, all differ[."

Religious Reading Long
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"There is a fulness of time when men should go, and not occupy too long the ground to which others have a right to advance."

Men Long Should
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"Had not a conviction of the danger to which an unlimited occupation of the executive chair would expose the republican Constitution of our Government, made it conscientiously a duty to retire when I did, the fear of becoming a dotard and of being insensible of it, would of itself have resisted all solicitations to remain."

Government Occupation Becoming
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"It is wonderful to me that old men should not be sensible that their minds keep pace with their bodies in the progress of decay."

Men Mind Progress
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"From the circumstances of my position, I was often thrown into the society of horse-racers, card-players, fox-hunters, scientific and professional men, and of dignified men; and many a time have I asked myself, in the enthusiastic moment of the death of a fox, the victory of a favorite horse, the issue of a question eloquently argued at the bar, or in the great council of the nation, well, which of these kinds of reputation should I prefer? That of a horse-jockey, a fox-hunter, an orator, or the honest advocate of my country's rights?"

Country Horse Player
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

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

Determination World Prudence
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"When an instrument admits two constructions, the one safe, the other dangerous, the one precise, the other indefinite, I prefer that which is safe and precise."

Two Safe Construction
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"Those who have once got an ascendancy, and possessed themselves of all the resources of the nation, their revenues and offices, have immense means for retaining their advantage."

Mean Office Advantage
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"It is not to the moderation and justice of others we are to trust for fair and equal access to market with out productions, or for our due share in the transportation of them; but to our own means of independence, and the firm will to use them."

Mean Justice Independence
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"Blest is that nation whose silent course of happiness furnishes nothing for history to say."

Silent Courses Nations
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"Everything is useful which contributes to fix the principles and practices of virtue."

Practice Principles Virtue
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"Without society, and a society to our taste, men are never contented."

Men Society Taste
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"Agreeable society is the first essential in constituting the happiness and of course the value of our existence."

Society Essentials Firsts
Read quote 3 likes
Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
Popular

"Sensibility of mind is indeed the parent of every virtue, but it is the parent of much misery, too."

Parent Mind Misery
Read quote 3 likes