Quotes By Thomas Jefferson

Taste cannot be controlled by law.

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

When angry count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred.

If there is one principle more deeply rooted in the mind of every American, it is that we should have nothing to do with conquest.

The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees in every object only the traits which favor that theory.

Nothing is unchangeable but the inherent and unalienable rights of man.

Difference of opinion is advantageous in religion. The several sects perform the office of a Censor - over each other.

One man with courage is a majority.

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.

Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.

Power is not alluring to pure minds.

The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other. Our children see this, and learn to imitate it.

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.

I am an Epicurean. I consider the genuine (not the imputed) doctrines of Epicurus as containing everything rational in moral philosophy which Greek and Roman leave to us.

So confident am I in the intentions, as well as wisdom, of the government, that I shall always be satisfied that what is not done, either cannot, or ought not to be done.

All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.

A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.

I think with the Romans, that the general of today should be a soldier tomorrow if necessary.

A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks.

The good opinion of mankind, like the lever of Archimedes, with the given fulcrum, moves the world.

The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.

My theory has always been, that if we are to dream, the flatteries of hope are as cheap, and pleasanter, than the gloom of despair.

As our enemies have found we can reason like men, so now let us show them we can fight like men also.

In defense of our persons and properties under actual violation, we took up arms. When that violence shall be removed, when hostilities shall cease on the part of the aggressors, hostilities shall cease on our part also.

War is an instrument entirely inefficient toward redressing wrong; and multiplies, instead of indemnifying losses.

In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.

There is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents.

I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.

It takes time to persuade men to do even what is for their own good.

An enemy generally says and believes what he wishes.