Thomas Jefferson Quotes

I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves ; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Control Liberty People Power Safe Society
An enemy generally says and believes what he wishes.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Believe Enemy One Liner
Do not bite at the bait of pleasure till you know there is no hook beneath it.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Beneath Bite Discipline Hook Pleasure
Take things always by their smooth handle.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Courtesy Gratitude Handle One Liner Respect
I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Difference Friendship Opinion Philosophy Politics Religion
Experience demands that man is the only animal which devours his own kind, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Animal Experience Man Poor Prey Rich
History, in general, only informs us what bad government is.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Bad Government History Politics
Never trouble another with what you can do yourself.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Courtesy Hurt One Liner Respect Trouble Yourself
Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and opressions of the body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Body Enlight Mind People Spirit
If you want something you’ve never had, You must be willing to do something you’ve never done.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Confidence Courage Hustle Inspirational Trust Work Hard
When angry, count 10. before you speak; if very angry, 100.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Angry Count One Liner Patience Speak
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.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Accident Heritage History Public Time Wasted Time
Honesty is the first chapter of the book wisdom.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Chapter Honesty One Liner True Wisdom
I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Dreamss Future History Inspirational One Liner Past
Think as you please, and so let others, and you will have no disputes.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Dispute Forgiveness Inspirational Let Go One Liner Please
To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Believe Fund Government Ideas Man Money
I predict future happiness for Americans, if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Freedom Future Government Happiness People Politics
History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Believe Government History Ignorance People Religious
The only security of all is in a free press.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Freedom One Liner Security
I hope that we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Challenge Corporation Country Government Law Strength
The equal rights of man, and the happiness of every individual, are now acknowledged to be the only legitimate objects of government.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Equality Government Happiness Individual Man Right
Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends [life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness] it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Destructive Ending Government People Politics Right
What a stupendous, what an incomprehensible machine is man! Who can endure toil, famine, stripes, imprisonment and death itself in vindication of his own liberty, and the next moment
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Death Liberty Machine Man Struggle
The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Fund Future Money Principle
The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Atmosphere Government Liberty Resistance Spirit Storm
The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Expression Foundation Freedom Government People Protect
I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage with my books, my family and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post, which any human power can give.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Book Family Friendship Human Life World

Other Famous Personalities