thomas-jefferson Quotes About country Page 2

Source: The writings of Thomas Jefferson: being his autobiography, correspondence, reports, messages, addresses, and other writings, official and private

“To all of which is added a selection from the elementary schools of subjects of the most promising genius, whose parents are too poor to give them further education, to be carried at the public expense through the college and university. The object is to bring into action that mass of talents which lies buried in poverty in every country, for want of the means of development, and thus give activity to a mass of mind, which, in proportion to our population, shall be double or treble of what it is in most countries.”

Source: The Real Thomas Jefferson

“I have been long sensible that while I was endeavoring to render our country the greatest of all services, that of regenerating the public education, and placing our rising generation on the level of our sister states (which they have proudly held heretofore), I was discharging the odious function of a physician pouring medicine down the throat of a patient insensible of needing it.”

Long Has Beens Country States Levels Education Generations Function Medicine Patient Our Country Rising Throat Sensible Physicians Pouring Public Education Insensible

Book:Early History of the University of Virginia: As Contained in the Letters of Thomas Jefferson and Joseph C. Cabell, Hitherto Unpublished; with an Appendix, Consisting of Mr. Jefferson's Bill for a Complete System of Education and Other Illustrative Documents; and an Introduction, Comprising a Brief Historical Sketch of the University, and a Biographical Notice of Joseph C. Cabell

Source: Early History of the University of Virginia: As Contained in the Letters of Thomas Jefferson and Joseph C. Cabell, Hitherto Unpublished; with an Appendix, Consisting of Mr. Jefferson's Bill for a Complete System of Education and Other Illustrative Documents; and an Introduction, Comprising a Brief Historical Sketch of the University, and a Biographical Notice of Joseph C. Cabell

“Education is here placed among the articles of public care, not that it would be proposed to take its ordinary branches out of the hands of private enterprise, which manages so much better all the concerns to which it is equal, but a public institution can alone supply those sciences which, though rarely called for, are yet necessary to complete the circle, all the parts of which contribute to the improvement of the country, and some of them to its preservation.”

Country Hands Would Be Care Education Equal Ordinary Concern Institutions Improvement Circles Manage Branches Enterprise Articles Preservation Private Enterprise

Book:The writings of Thomas Jefferson

Source: The writings of Thomas Jefferson

“There is a debt of service due from every man to his country, proportioned to the bounties which nature and fortune have measured to him.”

Men Country Fortune Debt Dues Every Man Civil Rights Bounty

Book:The writings of Thomas Jefferson: being his autobiography, correspondence, reports, messages, addresses, and other writings, official and private

Source: The writings of Thomas Jefferson: being his autobiography, correspondence, reports, messages, addresses, and other writings, official and private

“I acknowledge that such a debt [of service to my fellow-citizens] exists, that a tour of duty in whatever line he can be most useful to his country, is due from every individual. It is not easy perhaps to say of what length exactly that tour should be, but we may safely say of what length it should not be. Not of our whole life, for instance, for that would be to be born a slave-not even of a very large portion of it.”

Should May Country Whole Would Be Individual Easy Born Lines Duty Citizens Fellows Slave Debt Dues Whole Life Civil Rights Instance Acknowledge Length Portions

Author:Thomas Jefferson

“The man who loves his country on its own account, and not merely for its trappings of interest or power, can never be divorced for it, can never refuse to come forward when he finds that she is engaged in dangers which he has the means of warding off.”

Men Mean Country Interest Danger He Man Accounts Refuse Civil Rights Engaged Divorced

Book:Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies from the papers of T. Jefferson

Source: Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies from the papers of T. Jefferson

“The people of every country are the only safe guardians of their own rights, and are the only instruments which can be used for their destruction. And certainly they would never consent to be so used were they not deceived. To avoid this they should be instructed to a certain degree.”

People Should Country Used Certain Rights Safe Degrees Destruction Instruments Civil Rights Consent Guardian Deceived

Book:Jefferson: Writings

Source: Jefferson: Writings

“The most effectual means of preventing the perversion of power into tyranny are to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large, and more especially to give them knowledge of those facts which history exhibits, that possessed thereby of the experience of other ages and countries, they may be enabled to know ambition under all its shapes, and prompt to exert their natural powers to defeat its purposes.”

People Knows Giving Mind May Mean Country Facts Age Purpose Natural Shapes Ambition Defeat Tyranny Civil Rights Possessed Exhibits Preventing Prompts Perversion

Book:The Real Thomas Jefferson

Source: The Real Thomas Jefferson

“Most codes extend their definitions of treason to acts not really against one's country. They do not distinguish between acts against the government, and acts against the oppressions of the government. The latter are virtues, yet have furnished more victims to the executioner than the former. Real treasons are rare; oppressions frequent. The unsuccessful strugglers against tyranny have been the chief martyrs of treason laws in all countries.”

Has Beens Real Country Government Law Politics Virtue Victim Definitions Tyranny Civil Rights Oppression Chiefs Former Code Latter Martyr Treason Unsuccessful Executioners

Book:Correspondence

Source: Correspondence

“I sincerely wish you may find it convenient to come here. the pleasure of the trip will be less than you expect, but the utility greater. it will make you adore your own country, it's soil, it's climate, it's equality, liberty, laws, people & manners. my god! how little do my countrymen know.”

Source: The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia II, Correspondence 1782-1786

“Such is the moral construction of the world that no national crime passes unpunished in the long run... Were present oppressors to reflect on the same truth, they would spare to their own countries the penalties on their present wrongs which will be inflicted on them in future times. The seeds of hatred and revenge which they sow with a large hand will not fail to produce their fruits in time. Like their brother robbers on the highway, they suppose the escape of the moment a final escape and deem infamy and future risk countervailed by present gain.”

“The Gothic idea that we were to look backwards instead of forwards for the improvement of the human mind, and to recur to the annals of our ancestors for what is most perfect in government, in religion and in learning, is worthy of those bigots in religion and government by whom it has been recommended, and whose purposes it would answer. But it is not an idea which this country will endure.”

Source: The writings of Thomas Jefferson

“Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes. 2. Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise depositary of the public interests. In every country these two parties exist, and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves.”

Source: The writings of Thomas Jefferson

“To me... it appears that there have been differences of opinion and party differences, from the first establishment of government to the present day, and on the same question which now divides our own country; that these will continue through all future time; that every one takes his side in favor of the many, or of the few, according to his constitution, and the circumstances in which he is placed.”

Firsts Has Beens Country Government Politics Sides Differences Party Opinion Circumstances Constitution Favors Divides Establishment Present Day Differences Of Opinion Future Time

Book:Memoirs, 4: Correspondence and Private Papers

Source: Memoirs, 4: Correspondence and Private Papers

“The greatest good we can do our country is to heal its party divisions and make them one people.”

People Country Politics Can Do Party Heal Our Country Division

Book:Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness

Source: Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness

“Believing that the happiness of mankind is best promoted by the useful pursuits of peace, that on these alone a stable prosperity can be founded, that the evils of war are great in their endurance, and have a long reckoning for ages to come, I have used my best endeavors to keep our country uncommitted in the troubles which afflict Europe, and which assail us on every side.”

Source: Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence

“By making this wine known to the public, I have rendered my country as great a service as if I had enabled it to pay back the national debt.”

Ifs Country Pay Known Food Cooking Wine Debt Culinary Vines National Debt Drinking Wine Great Wine Vino Wine Making

Author:Thomas Jefferson

“I shall rejoin myself to my native country, with new attachments, and with exaggerated esteem for its advantages; for though there is less wealth there, there is more freedom, more ease, and less misery.”

Country America Wealth Advantage Misery Esteem Ease Native Attachment Exaggerated Native Country

Book:Memoirs Corespondence and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson Late, President of the United States: Now First Published the Original Manuscripts

Source: Memoirs Corespondence and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson Late, President of the United States: Now First Published the Original Manuscripts

“The steady character of our countrymen is a rock to which we may safely moor; and notwithstanding the efforts of the papers to disseminate early discontents, I expect that a just, dispassionate and steady conduct, will at length rally to a proper system the great body of our country. Unequivocal in principle, reasonable in manner, we shall be able I hope to do a great deal of good to the cause of freedom & harmony.”

Source: Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies from the papers of T. Jefferson

“If our country, when pressed with wrongs at the point of the bayonet, had been governed by its heads instead of its hearts, where should we have been now? Hanging on a gallows as high as Haman's.”

Ifs Should Heart Has Beens Country Wisdom Politics Economy Revolution Our Country Liberalism American Revolution Hanging On Bayonets Gallows

Book:The writings of Thomas Jefferson: being his autobiography, correspondence, reports, messages, addresses, and other writings, official and private

Source: The writings of Thomas Jefferson: being his autobiography, correspondence, reports, messages, addresses, and other writings, official and private

“I join cordially in admiring and revering the Constitution of the United States, the result of the collected wisdom of our country. That wisdom has committed to us the important task of proving by example that a government, if organized in all its parts on the Representative principle unadulterated by the infusion of spurious elements, if founded, not in the fears & follies of man, but on his reason, on his sense of right, on the predominance of the social over his dissocial passions, may be so free as to restrain him in no moral right, and so firm as to protect him from every moral wrong.”

“I have been happy . . . in believing that . . . whatever follies we may be led into as to foreign nations, we shall never give up our Union, the last anchor of our hope, and that alone which is to prevent this heavenly country from becoming an arena of gladiators.”

Giving Believe May Has Beens Country Lasts Nations Policy Becoming Giving Up Unions Folly Heavenly Foreign Policy Arena Never Giving Up Anchors

Book:Memoirs, correspondence and private papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. by T.J. Randolph

Source: Memoirs, correspondence and private papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. by T.J. Randolph

“With earnest prayers to all my friends to cherish mutual good will, to promote harmony and conciliation, and above all things to let the love of our country soar above all minor passions, I tender you the assurance of my affectionate esteem and respect.”

Love Country Passion Prayer My Friends All Things Harmony Esteem Our Country Mutual Cherish Minors Soar Assurance Earnest Good Will Affectionate Love Respect

Book:The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin

Source: The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin

“We shall divert through our own Country a branch of commerce which the European States have thought worthy of the most important struggles and sacrifices, and in the event of peace on terms which have been contemplated by some powers we shall form to the American union a barrier against the dangerous extension of the British Province of Canada and add to the Empire of liberty an extensive and fertile Country thereby converting dangerous Enemies into valuable friends.”

“I agree with you that it is the duty of every good citizen to use all the opportunities, which occur to him, for preserving documents relating to the history of our country.”

Country Use Opportunity President Duty Citizens Agree Very Good Our Country Documents Good Citizen

Book:The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin. Reports and opinions while Secretary of State

Source: The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin. Reports and opinions while Secretary of State

“I have often thought that nothing would do more extensive good at small expense than the establishment of a small circulating library in every county, to consist of a few well-chosen books, to be lent to the people of the country under regulations as would secure their safe return in due time.”

People Wells Book Country President Return Safe Library Dues Chosen Secure Expenses Establishment Regulation County Due Time Safe Return

Book:Jefferson: Writings

Source: Jefferson: Writings

“The trifling economy of paper, as a cheaper medium, or its convenience for transmission, weighs nothing in opposition to the advantages of the precious metals it is liable to be abused, has been, is, and forever will be abused, in every country in which it is permitted.”

Has Beens Country Economy Forever Paper Advantage Mediums Opposition Metals Convenience Cheaper Liable Transmission Trifling Precious Metal

Book:The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence and Papers, 1808-1816

Source: The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence and Papers, 1808-1816

“And even should the cloud of barbarism and despotism again obscure the science and libraries of Europe, this country remains to preserve and restore light and liberty to them.”

Should Country Light Liberty Europe Remains Library Clouds Preserves Obscure Despotism Barbarism

Book:The writings of Thomas Jefferson: being his autobiography, correspondence, reports, messages, addresses, and other writings, official and private : published by the order of the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library, from the original manuscripts, deposited in the Department of State

Source: The writings of Thomas Jefferson: being his autobiography, correspondence, reports, messages, addresses, and other writings, official and private : published by the order of the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library, from the original manuscripts, deposited in the Department of State

“The parties of Whig and Tory are those of nature. They exist in all countries, whether called by these names or by those of Aristocrats and Democrats, Cote Droite and Cote Gauche, Ultras and Radicals, Serviles and Liberals. The sickly, weakly, timid man fears the people, and is a Tory by nature. The healthy, strong and bold cherishes them, and is formed a Whig by nature.”

People Men Country Political Politics Names Strong Party Healthy Democrat Radical Cherish Ultras

Book:Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence

Source: Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence

“Legislators cannot invent too many devices for subdividing property... Another means of silently lessening the inequality of property is to exempt all from taxation below a certain point, and to tax the higher portions of property in geometrical progression as they rise. Whenever there is in any country, uncultivated lands and unemployed poor, it is clear that the laws of property have been so far extended as to violate natural right.”