thomas-jefferson Quotes About political

“You and I have formerly seen warm debates and high political passions. But gentlemen of different politics would then speak to each other and separate the business of the Senate from that of society. It is not so now. Men who have been intimate all their lives, cross the streets to avoid meeting, and turn their heads another way, lest they should be obliged to touch their hats. This may do for young men with whom passion is enjoyment. But it is afflicting to peaceable minds. Tranquility is the old man's milk.”

“The tumults in America I expected would have produced in Europe an unfavorable opinion of our political state. But it has not. On the contrary, the small effect of these tumults seems to have given more confidence in the firmness of our governments. The interposition of the people themselves on the side of government has had a great effect on the opinion here in Europe.”

People States Wisdom Seems Government America Political Politics Given Sides Opinion Economy Effects Europe Expected Contrary Liberalism Firmness Tumult

Book:Jefferson: Political Writings

Source: Jefferson: Political Writings

“The information of the people at large can alone make them the safe as they are the sole depositary of our political and religious freedom.”

People Political Religious Information Safe Sole Religious Freedom

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

“My passion strengthens daily to quit political turmoil, and retire into the bosom of my family, the only scene of sincere and purehappiness.”

Happiness Political Passion Politics Scene My Family Quitting Sincere Retiring My Passion Bosoms Turmoil Political Turmoil

Author:Thomas Jefferson

“I was dupedby the Secretary of the treasury [Alexander Hamilton], and made a fool for forwarding his schemes, not then sufficiently understood by me; and of all the errors of my political life, this has occasioned the deepest regret.”

Made Political Politics Regret Fool Understood Errors Schemes Secretary Treasury Political Life Hamilton

Author:Thomas Jefferson

“I candidly confess that I have ever looked on Cuba as the most interesting addition which could ever be made to our system of States. The control which, with Florida, this island would give us over the Gulf of Mexico, and the countries and isthmus bordering on it, as well as all those whose waters flow into it, would fill up the measure of our political well-being.”

Giving Wells Made Country States Political Water Interesting Flow Well Being Islands Mexico Florida Cuba Most Interesting Gulf Of Mexico

Book:Memoirs, Correspondence and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Late President of the United States

Source: Memoirs, Correspondence and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Late President of the United States

“If any doubt has arisen as to me, my country [Virginia] will have my political creed in the form of a "Declaration &c." which I was lately directed to draw. This will give decisive proof that my own sentiment concurred with the vote they instructed us to give.”

Ifs Giving Country Form Political My Own Doubt Draws Vote Proof Sentiments Creeds Declaration Virginia

Book:The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1771 - 1779, the Summary View, and the Declaration of Independence

Source: The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1771 - 1779, the Summary View, and the Declaration of Independence

“In a virtuous government, and more especially in times like these, public offices are what they should be - burdens to those appointed to them which it would be wrong to decline, though foreseen to bring them intense labor and great private loss.”

Should Government Would Be Political Politics Loss Office Labor Burden Intense Decline Virtuous Public Office Foreseen Times Like These

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

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

“To take a single step beyond the boundaries specially drawn around the powers of Congress is to take possession of a boundless field of power, no longer susceptible to definition.”

Source: The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, cont

“My reason for fixing them in office for a term of years, rather than for life, was that they might have an idea that they were at a certain period to return into the mass of the people and become the governed instead of the governors which might still keep alive that regard to the public good that otherwise they might perhaps be induced by their independence to forget.”

People Years Stills Ideas Reason Might Political Certain Politics Term Forget Alive Return Periods Office Mass Regard Independence Governors Fixing Public Good Term Limits

Book:The portable Thomas Jefferson

Source: The portable Thomas Jefferson

“No person shall be capable of being a delegate for more than three years in any term of six.”

Years Persons Political Three Politics Term Six Capable Three Years Delegates Term Limits

Book:The American Beginnings: The Virginia Declaration of Rights; The Declaration of Independence, in Mr. Jefferson's Original Text, with Some of His Comments Thereon; the Articles of Confederation

Source: The American Beginnings: The Virginia Declaration of Rights; The Declaration of Independence, in Mr. Jefferson's Original Text, with Some of His Comments Thereon; the Articles of Confederation

“The Governor would serve a five-year term and be ineligible for reelection.”

Years Political Politics Term Five Five Years Governors Term Limits Reelection

Author:Thomas Jefferson

“I leave to others the sublime delights of riding in the storm, better pleased with sound sleep & a warmer berth below it encircled, with the society of neighbors, friends & fellow laborers of the earth rather than with spies & sycophants ... I have no ambition to govern men. It is a painful and thankless office.”