Quotes from Thomas Jefferson

The olive tree is surely the richest gift of Heaven. I can scarcely expect bread.

Too old to plant trees for my own gratification, I shall do it for my posterity.

I never before knew the full value of trees....What would I not give that the trees planted nearest round the house at Monticello were full grown.

A little rebellion now and then is a good thing. Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. In order to flourish, the tree of Liberty needs the blood of patriots and tyrants.

Our citizens may be deceived for awhile, and have been deceived; but as long as the presses can be protected, we may trust to them for light.

Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights.

I have not observed mens honesty to increase with their riches.

Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those whom we are obliged to trust with power.

When a man assumes a public trust he should consider himself as public property.

Truth between candid minds can never do harm.

Difference of opinion leads to inquiry, and inquiry to the truth.

He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.

The advertisement is the most truthful part of a newspaper.

If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?

Politics is such a torment that I advise everyone I love not to mix with it.

Take more pleasure in giving what is best to another than in having it for yourself, and then all the world will love you.

It is in the love of one's family only that heartfelt happiness is known.

The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them, they cannot love us.

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

It is always better to have no ideas than false ones; to believe nothing, than to believe what is wrong.

For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead.

In truth, politeness is artificial good humor, it covers the natural want of it, and ends by rendering habitual a substitute nearly equivalent to the real virtue.

There is not a truth existing which I fear... or would wish unknown to the whole world.

It is an insult to our citizens to question whether they are rational beings or not, and blasphemy against religion to suppose it cannot stand the test of truth and reason.