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Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.

Thomas Jefferson

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
Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of Liberty.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Calm Courage Liberty Men Prefer Time
I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge, never fearing to follow truth and reason to whatever results they led.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Bold Courage Fear Honesty Knowledge Truth
I am increasingly persuaded that the earth belongs exclusively to the living and that one generation has no more right to bind another to it’s laws and judgments than one independent nation has the right to command another.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Earth Generation Independence Judgement Nation Politics
On matters of style, swim with the current, on matters of principle, stand like a rock.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Inspirational Principle Rock Stand Style Swim
There is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequal people.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Education Equality People Philosophy Treatment
It is more dangerous that even a guilty person should be punished without the forms of law than that he should escape.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

DAngry Escape Guilty Justice Law Punishment
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
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 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 cannot live without books.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Addiction Book One Liner Reading
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
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
An enemy generally says and believes what he wishes.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Believe Enemy One Liner
The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Gain Government Ground Liberty Progress
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
I’m a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Believe Greatness Inspirational Luck Success Work Hard
We confide in our strength, without boasting of it, we respect that of others, without fearing it.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Confidence Fear Respect Strength
Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Depend Freedom Healing Liberty Lost
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
Ignorance is preferable to error, and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Believe Ignorance Prefer Truth
We have no right to prejudice another in his civil enjoyments because he is of another church.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Civil Enjoyment Religion Right
When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Duty Injustice Justice Law One Liner Resistance
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
I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Dreamss Future History Inspirational One Liner Past
History, in general, only informs us what bad government is.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Bad Government History Politics
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Bank Believe DAngry Institution Liberty Stand

Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.

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Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.

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Popular Authors

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