Quotes from Thomas Jefferson

I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.

If the book be false in its facts, disprove them; if false in its reasoning, refute it. But, for God's sake, let us freely hear both sides, if we choose.

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.

By oft repeating an untruth, men come to believe it themselves.

The same prudence which in private life would forbid our paying our own money for unexplained projects, forbids it in the dispensation of the public moneys.

Government as well as religion has furnished its schisms, its persecutions and its devices for fattening idleness on the earnings of the people.

An association of men who will not quarrel with one another is a thing which has never yet existed, from the greatest confederacy of nations down to a town meeting or a vestry.

We are now vibrating between too much and too little government, and the pendulum will rest finally in the middle.

We ought not to schismatize on either men or measures. Principles alone can justify that.

Everyone must act according to the dictates of his own reason.

No man has done everything he can who has done only his best.

...is the spirit of the people an infallible, a permanent reliance? ...the spirit of the times may alter, will alter. Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless.

The first object of human association [is] the full improvement of their condition.

I could say much about politics, our only entertainment here, but you would not care a fig about that.

The only orthodox object of the institution of government is to secure the greatest degree of happiness possible to the general mass of those associated under it.

I see the necessity of sacrificing our opinions sometimes to the opinions of others for the sake of harmony.

That liberty [is pure] which is to go to all, and not to the few or the rich alone. (to Horatio Gates, 1798)

If a due participation of office is a matter of right how are vacancies to be obtained? Those by death are few by resignation none.

What all agree upon is probably right; what no two agree in most probably is wrong.

Determine never to be idle. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.

The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed.

The issuing power [of money] should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.

An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens.