Quotes from Thomas Jefferson

Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.

All is politics in this capital.

Congress has scarcely any thing to employ them, and complain that the place [Washington, D.C.] is remarkably dull.

Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independant, the most virtuous, and they are tied to their country and wedded to its liberty and interests by the most lasting bands.

Agriculture, manufactures, commerce and navigation, the four pillars of our prosperity, are the most thriving when left most free to individual enterprise.

The loss of the battle of Waterloo was the salvation of France.

The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.

If Americans ever allow banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children will wake up homeless.

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

When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.

I'm a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.

No nation is permitted to live in ignorance with impunity

A nation as a society forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society

On the dogmas of religion, as distinguished from moral principles, all mankind, from the beginning of the world to this day, have been quarreling, fighting, burning and torturing one another, for abstractions unintelligible to themselves and to all others, and absolutely beyond the comprehension of the human mind.

If the freedom of religion, guaranteed to us by law in theory, can ever rise in practice under the overbearing inquisition of public opinion, then and only then will truth, prevail over fanaticism

We must do our duty and convince the world that we are just friends and brave enemies

Honesty, disinterestedness and good nature are indispensable to procure the esteem and confidence of those with whom we live, and on whose esteem our happiness depends.

Responsibility is a tremendous engine in a free government

Men are disposed to live honestly, if the means of doing so are open to them.

Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from truth who believes nothing, than he who believes what is wrong

Speeches that are measured by the hour will die with the hour.

Never into dispute or argument with another. I never yet saw an instance of one of two disputants convincing the other by argument. I have seen many on their getting warm, becoming rude and shooting one another.

Those who labour in the earth are the chosen people of God

No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden