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Thomas Jefferson

100 quotes

Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) was an American Founding Father who served as the third President of the United States. He was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, a champion of democracy, religious freedom, and individual rights. Jefferson was also an architect, inventor, and founder of the University of Virginia.

“The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.”

— Thomas Jefferson

God

All Quotes by Thomas Jefferson

“Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Friendship

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

— Thomas Jefferson

Alone

“But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Friendship

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

— Thomas Jefferson

Religion

“To penetrate and dissipate these clouds of darkness, the general mind must be strengthened by education.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Education

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

— Thomas Jefferson

Anger

“For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Best

“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Alone

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

— Thomas Jefferson

God

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

— Thomas Jefferson

Good

“Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Government

“The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.”

— Thomas Jefferson

God

“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.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Hope

“That government is the strongest of which every man feels himself a part.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Government

“I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge, never fearing to follow truth and reason to whatever results they led, and bearding every authority which stood in their way.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Knowledge

“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.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Best

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

— Thomas Jefferson

Politics

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

— Thomas Jefferson

Men

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

— Thomas Jefferson

Men

“Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations entangling alliances with none.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Friendship