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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

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Darkness Himself Ideas Instruction Lesson Light
But friendship is precious, not only in the shade but in the sunshine of life; & thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things, the greater part of life is sunshine. I will recur for proof to the days we have lately passed. On these indeed the sun shone brightly.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Arrangement Friendship Precious Proof Sun Sunshine
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
When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Duty Injustice Justice Law One Liner Resistance
Experience declares that man is the only animal which devours his own kind; for I can apply no milder term to the governments of Europe, and to the general prey of the rich on the poor.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Declare Experience Government Man Poor Rich
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
I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Freedom Legal Religion
Take things always by their smooth handle.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Courtesy Gratitude Handle One Liner Respect
Never buy a thing you do not want, because it is cheap, it will be dear to you.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Cheap Dear Declutter Minimalism One Liner Simplicity
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
Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Friendship Man Peace Policy Pursure Wise
It is an axiom in my mind, that our liberty can never be safe but in the hands of the people themselves, and that too of the people with a certain degree of instruction. This it is the business of the State to effect, and on a general plan.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Business Democracy Instruction Liberty Mind People
Difference of opinion is advantageous in religion. The several sects perform the office of a Censor morum over each other.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Advantage Difference Each Other Opinion Religion
The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Deep Intelligence Silence Talent Value Writing
Where the press is free and every man able to read, all is safe.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Democracy Freedom Government Liberty Man 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 would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Attend Degree Expose Inconveience Liberty Reveal
Dependence begets subservience and venality, suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit tools for the designs of ambition.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Ambition Design Freedom Independence Virtue
Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Authority Exist Leaving People Responsible
An enemy generally says and believes what he wishes.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Believe Enemy One Liner
Nothing is troublesome that one does willingly.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Dedication Hustle Inspirational One Liner Trouble
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
The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Deep Education Insult Man Newspaper Reading
No people can be both ignorant and free.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Freedom Ignorant One Liner Peace People
Be polite to all, but intimate with few.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Courtesy Deep Inspirational One Liner Polite
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

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.

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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.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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