Quotes from Thomas Jefferson

by Ryan Fosdick
(SE Minnesota)

Thomas Jefferson

 

Thomas Jefferson

I really love quotes from Thomas Jefferson. I am a history fanatic, and I feel that Thomas Jefferson showed wisdom with words. I specifically enjoy his quotes about equality and government. Here are some of my most favorite quotes from Mr. Thomas Jefferson himself:

“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.”

“Advertisements contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper.”

“Be polite to all, but intimate with few.”

“Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government.”

“Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto.”

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

” The way to silence religious disputes is to take no notice of them.”

“We did not raise armies for glory or for conquest.”

“We never repent of having eaten too little.”

“It is in our lives and not our words that our religion must be read.”

“It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.”

“Nothing is unchangeable but the inherent and unalienable rights of man.”

“One man with courage is a majority.”

” Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail.”

“Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.”

“I have no ambition to govern men; it is a painful and thankless office.”

“I have seen enough of one war never to wish to see another.”

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