Quotes by Thomas Jefferson

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

"I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country."

"Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits."

"One man with courage is a majority."

"Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear."

"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear."

"Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far."

"Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading. I will rather say more necessary because health is worth more than learning."

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

"Here was buried Thomas Jefferson Author of the Declaration of American Independence Of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom & Father of the University of Virginia."

"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."

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

"Friendship is but another name for an alliance with the follies and the misfortunes of others. Our own share of miseries is sufficient: why enter then as volunteers into those of another?"

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

"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government."

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

"Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the form of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question."

"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive."

"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."

"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground."

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

"It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquility and occupation which give you happiness."

"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."

"The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees in every object only the traits which favor that theory."

"The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money."

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

"Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you."

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

"Whenever a man has cast a longing eye on offices, a rottenness begins in his conduct."

"Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people."

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