Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, was not only a statesman, diplomat, and President but also a prolific writer and thinker.
Jefferson’s quotes reflect his deep commitment to the principles of liberty, democracy, individual rights, and the pursuit of knowledge. They offer profound insights into his political philosophy, values, and vision for a just and enlightened society.
In the following collection of quotes by Thomas Jefferson, you’ll discover his wisdom on matters ranging from government and freedom to education and human nature, providing a glimpse into the mind of a man who played a pivotal role in shaping the U.S.A. foundational ideals.
Famous Thomas Jefferson Quotes
“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.”
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.”
“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”
“I’m a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
“Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching.”
“Educate and inform the whole mass of the people… They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.”
“Ignorance is preferable to error, and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong.”
“The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time.”
“I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.”
“The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money.”
“The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.”
“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”
“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.”
Thomas Jefferson Quotes on Liberty and Democracy
Jefferson valued liberty and freedom. Here are some Thomas Jefferson quotes on liberty and freedom.
“I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.”
“The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave.”
“We are not to expect to be translated from despotism to liberty in a featherbed.”
“The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object.”
“The greatest danger to American freedom is a government that ignores the Constitution.”
“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.”
Thomas Jefferson Quotes on Politics and Government
“I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.”
“Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.”
“The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government.”
“There is not a truth existing which I fear… or would wish unknown to the whole world.”
“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive.”
“A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.”
“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.”
“Difference of opinion leads to inquiry, and inquiry to the truth.”
“No government ought to be without censors; and where the press is free, no one ever will.”
“My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.”
“The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite.”
“When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.”
“Whenever a man has cast a longing eye on offices, a rottenness begins in his conduct.”
“War is an instrument entirely inefficient toward redressing wrong; and multiplies, instead of indemnifying losses.”
Thomas Jefferson Quotes on Tyranny and Oppression
“Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day.”
You will enjoy reading Theodore Roosevelt quotes.
“In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.”
“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.”
“The majority, oppressing an individual, is guilty of a crime, abuses its strength, and by acting on the law of the strongest breaks up the foundations of society.”
Thomas Jefferson Quotes on Reading and Education
“The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers.”
“I cannot live without books.”
“To penetrate and dissipate these clouds of darkness, the general mind must be strengthened by education.”
“He who knows best knows how little he knows.”
“I do not take a single newspaper, nor read one a month, and I feel myself infinitely the happier for it.”
“I have nothing but contempt for anyone who can spell a word only one way.”
Related: Eleanor Roosevelt quotes.
Quotes by Thomas Jefferson on Life
“When angry, count ten before you speak; if very angry, a hundred.”
“I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another.”
“Do not bite at the bait of pleasure till you know there is no hook beneath it.”
“An injured friend is the bitterest of foes.”
“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”
“Every day is lost in which we do not learn something useful.”
“It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation, which give happiness.”
“Never spend your money before you have earned it.”
“The advertisement is the most truthful part of a newspaper.”
You will enjoy reading George Washington quotes.
“Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much can be done if we are always doing.”
“The good opinion of mankind, like the lever of Archimedes, with the given fulcrum, moves the world.”
“The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees in every object only the traits that favor that theory.”
“Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.”
“Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far.”
“It is always better to have no ideas than false ones; to believe nothing than to believe what is wrong.”
“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.”
About Thomas Jefferson Quotes
In conclusion, the quotes of Thomas Jefferson encapsulate the essence of his visionary ideals and enduring principles.
As a Founding Father and one of the key architects of the United States, Jefferson’s words continue to resonate across generations, providing valuable insights into the foundations of democracy, freedom, and the pursuit of knowledge.
His unwavering belief in the innate rights of individuals and the necessity of a government that derives its authority from the governed remains a guiding light for societies worldwide.
Moreover, Thomas Jefferson’s quotes serve as a reminder that the pursuit of liberty, justice, and equality is a timeless endeavor.
They inspire people to be active and informed citizens, to uphold the principles upon which nations are built, and to continually strive for a more just and enlightened society.
In a rapidly changing world, Jefferson’s wisdom remains a source of inspiration, encouraging us to reflect on our responsibilities as stewards of democracy and champions of human rights.
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