Quotes from Thomas Jefferson

You will perceive by my preaching that I am growing old: it is the privilege of years, and I am sure you will pardon it from the purity of it's motives.

Trial by jury is part of that bright constellation which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation.

Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.

One travels more usefully when alone, because he reflects more.

No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms.

It behooves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others: or their case may, by change of circumstances, become his own.

It is while we are young that the habit of industry is formed. If not then, it never is afterwards. The fortune of our lives therefore depends on employing well the short period of our youth.

Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.

It is proof of sincerity, which I value above all things; as, between those who practice it, falsehood and malice work their efforts in vain.

I never saw an instance of one or two disputants convincing the other by argument.

The art of governing consists simply of being honest, exercising common sense, following principle, and doing what is right and just.

The art of printing secures us against the retrogradation of reason and information.

No man will labor for himself who can make another labor for him.

I extremely believe in luck, and I discovered more hard work, your luck as much

I believe in good luck, and the harder I work and the more I believe in myself, the luckier I get.

Everything yields to diligence

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

My only fear is that I may live too long. This would be a subject of dread to me.

Communities should be planned with an eye to the effect on the human spirit of being continually surrounded by a maximum of beauty.

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

I succeed him no one could replace him.

Never spend your money before you have it.

A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high virtues of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self-preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation.

We have the wolf by the ears, and we can neither hold him, nor safely let him go. Justice is in one scale, and self-preservation in the other.