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

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Thomas Jefferson quotes (page 88 of 91)

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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"In the legislature, the House of Representatives is chosen by less than half the people, and not at all in proportion to those who do choose. The Senate are still more disproportionate, and for long terms of irresponsibility. In the Executive, the Governor is entirely independent of the choice of the people, and of their control; his Council equally so, and at best but a fifth wheel to a wagon. In the Judiciary, the judges of the highest courts are dependent on none but themselves."

Independent Long People
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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"Societies exist under three forms sufficiently distinguishable. 1. Without government, as among our Indians. 2. Under governments wherein the will of every one has a just influence, as is the case in England in a slight degree, and in our states, in a great one. 3. Under governments of force: as is the case in all other monarchies and in most of the other republics. To have an idea of the curse of existence under these last, they must be seen. It is a government of wolves over sheep."

Sheep Government Ideas
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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"I believe in good luck, and the harder I work and the more I believe in myself, the luckier I get."

Believe Good Luck Harder
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"By [the] operations [of public improvement] new channels of communication will be opened between the States; the lines of separation will disappear, their interests will be identified, and their union cemented by new and indissoluble ties."

Communication Ties Unions
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"The interests of the States... ought to be made joint in every possible instance in order to cultivate the idea of our being one nation, and to multiply the instances in which the people shall look up to Congress as their head."

Ideas Order People
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"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."

Blood Littles Tempest
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"Where everyman is participator in the government of affairs, not merely at an election one day in the year but everyday, he will let the heart be torn out of his body sooner than his power be wrested from him by a Caesar or a Bonaparte."

Heart Government Years
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"Big banks are more dangerous than standing armies, and the practice of borrowing and spending money to be paid back by the next generation is stealing from their future."

Army Practice Next
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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"Religion, morality, and knowledge are necessary for good government... Therefore schools and the means of educating the people should always be encouraged."

School Mean Government
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"No man will ever carry out of the Presidency the reputation which carried him into it."

Men Political Politics
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"The same facts impress us differently."

Facts Impress
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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"The States should be urged to concede to the General Government, with a saving of chartered rights, the exclusive power of establishing banks of discount for paper."

Rights Government Paper
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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"The happiness of society depends so much on preventing party spirit from infecting the common intercourse of life, that nothing should be spared to harmonize and amalgamate the two parties in social circles."

Party Circles Two
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"An hereditary aristocracy... will change the form of our governments from the best to the worst in the world."

Government Aristocracy World
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"There is no King, who, with sufficient force, is not always ready to make himself absolute."

Kings Force Ready
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"...let us save what remains; not by vaults and locks which fence them from the public eye and use in consigning them to the waste of time, but by such a multiplication of copies, as shall place them beyond the reach of accident."

Eye Locks Use
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"Never use one word when two will do."

Two Use One Word
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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"No country and no people can be free and ignorant at the same time."

Country People Ignorant
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Thomas Jefferson Politician, Founding Father
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"Earnestly recommended to all officers and soldiers, diligently to attend divine services."

Soldier Divine Officers
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