Quotessence
Home / Authors / Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson Quotes

3rd U.S. President

Filter quotes by topic

AllGovernmentMenLibertyPeopleIfsPoliticsShouldMayLawStatesCountryMindRightsConstitutionPoliticalNationsPrinciplesReligionReligiousWar

Famous Thomas Jefferson Quotes

“The spirit of the times may alter, will alter. Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless... From the conclusion of this war we shall be going downhill. It will not then be necessary to resort every moment to the people for support. They will be forgotten, therefore, and their rights disregarded. They will forget themselves, but in the sole faculty of making money, and will never think of uniting to affect a due respect for their rights. The shackles, therefore, will be made heavier and heavier, till our rights shall revive or expire in a convulsion.”

PeopleThinkingMayMadeWarMomentsSpiritForgetLibertySupportRightsForgottenDuesConclusionMaking MoneyFacultySoleRulersResortsCarelessReviveShacklesUnitingDisregarded
Author:Thomas Jefferson
Create image

“I am for relying for internal defense on our militia solely till actual invasion, and for such a naval force only as may protect our coasts and harbors from such depredations as we have experienced; and not for a standing army in time of peace which may overawe the public sentiment; nor for a navy which, by its own expenses and the eternal wars in which it will implicate us, will grind us with public burthens and sink us under them.”

MayWarForceProtectEternalStandingArmyDefenseInternalsExpensesSentimentsCoastNavyInvasionHarborsGrindMilitiaNaval
Book:Jefferson Himself: The Personal Narrative of a Many-Sided American
Create image

“I am ever unwilling that [peace] should be disturbed as long as the rights and interests of the nations can be preserved. But whensoever hostile aggressions on these require a resort to war, we must meet our duty and convince the world that we are just friends and brave enemies.”

WorldShouldLongWarNationsInterestEnemyRightsDutyBraveConvinceAggressionHostileResortsDisturbedUnwillingJust Friends
Book:Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence
Create image

“We abhor the follies of war, and are not untried in its distresses and calamities. Unmeddling with the affairs of other nations, we had hoped that our distance and our dispositions would have left us free, in the example and indulgence of peace with all the world.”

WorldWarLeftNationsExampleDistanceAffairFollyDistressDispositionCalamityIndulgence
Book:Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence
Create image

“I have ever deemed it fundamental for the United States never to take active part in the quarrels of Europe.... They are nations of eternal war.”

WarStatesNationsUnitedUnited StatesEternalEuropeFundamentalsActiveLibertarianQuarrelsBalance Of Power
Book:Memoirs, Correspondence, and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Late President of the United States
Create image

“I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.”

WarCountryGodJusticeSleepChristianityForeverInjusticePatrioticHeritageAnti WarAntiwarFoundersPatriotFoundingReflectingFirst AmendmentTremblingGift From GodOur Founding FathersUs HistoryDeclaration Of IndependenceFounding Fathers ChristianUs Founding FathersAlmighty GodFounding Fathers ReligionFounding Fathers ReligiousFounding Fathers Of AmericaFounding AmericaAmerican Founding FathersChristianity From Founding FathersChristian FatherChristian HeritageAmerican LibertyReligion And GovernmentMorality And ReligionChristian RightAmerica FreedomSocial InjusticeRevolution Founding FathersUsa PatrioticAmerican FreedomChristian PatrioticDeistInspirational PatrioticOne Nation Under GodGod And CountryJustice And InjusticeGod Bless AmericaAmerican JusticeJustice Of GodWheel Of FortunePatriotic ReligiousChristian LeadersPolitical Wisdom
Author:Thomas Jefferson
Create image

“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.”

IfsWorldWarWisdomPoliticalPoliticsPayHalfPrinciplesGenerationsDebtWar Of The WorldsOne HalfIncumbentsMind Your Own BusinessNational DebtGeneration GapDebt By Founding FathersGovernment DebtIncumbency
Book:The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence and Papers, 1816-1826
Create image

“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.”

InspirationalWarMatterCharacterWisdomMotivationalSuccessPresidentLeadershipFreedomBusinessAttitudeLeaderVisionPrinciplesRocksStyleWise WordsWords Of WisdomEthicsStandingCurrentsHelping OthersPresidentialSwimSwimming4th Of JulyTotal WarWorld LeaderInspiring LeaderEffective LeadershipLeadership By Famous LeadersBest LeaderAmerican PresidentUs PresidentPerseverance And DeterminationGreatest LeadershipPresidents DayFounding Fathers DemocracyFuture LeadersMotivational ActionLeadership IntegrityInspirational CharacterInspirational PresidentialEthics And IntegrityInspiring PresidentialParticipative LeadershipMorals And IntegrityDedication And DeterminationStand Your GroundLeadership Style
Book:The Jefferson Bible [annotated]: Original Old English Version and Modern Updates to The Jefferson Bible
Create image

“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.”

IfsWarStatesNationsFreedomEducationLibertyCivilizationHistoricalEducationalIgnorantThriveAntiwarAmerican DreamDemocracies HavePublic EducationCitizenryElectorateFounding Fathers Of AmericaUninformedNew GovernmentAmerica FreedomValue Of EducationWhat Is EducationUniversal EducationEducation And FreedomFree StateEducation In AmericaJustice TruthCompulsory EducationInformed CitizenryInformed CitizensGovernment EducationIf Ignorance Is BlissIgnorant Bliss
Author:Thomas Jefferson
Create image

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

WarGovernmentSpiritCertainPoliticsWishFreedomLibertyAliveValuableLibertarianTyrannyResistanceOccasionsPresidentialRevolutionaryPatrioticAnti WarPatriotGun ControlDissentFreedom And LibertyFreedom LibertyOur Founding FathersProperty RightsAmerican RevolutionLimited GovernmentDemocracies HaveUs Founding FathersRight To Bear ArmsForefathersBearing ArmsAmerican GovernmentLimiting GovernmentPro GunLibertarian PartyFounding Fathers GunLimited FreedomPolitical WillPolitical FreedomEternal VigilanceGreat LibertarianLiberty And JusticeAmerica FreedomPrice Of FreedomLimiting FreedomResistance To ChangeAmerican FreedomTyranny Founding FathersDemocracy In AmericaGovernment And PoliticsGovernment PoliticsGovernment TyrannyControlling GovernmentLiberty And Justice For AllVoting Founding FathersPolitical WisdomMinority GovernmentDivided Government
Book:The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1786-1787
Create image

“Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.”

WarNationsPeaceLibertyHonestHonestyTradeLibertarianAnti WarAntiwarForeign PolicyLibertarianismCommerceAlliancesStatesmenFreedom And LibertyFreedom LibertyProperty RightsLimiting GovernmentInauguralInaugural AddressGreat LibertarianForeign RelationsTyranny Founding FathersTyranny Of The MajorityGovernment And PoliticsGovernment PoliticsInterventionismDebt By Founding FathersHonest FriendsUs Foreign Policy
Author:Thomas Jefferson
Create image

“It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid war; but if it shall actually take place, no matter by whom brought on, we must defend ourselves. If our house be on fire, without inquiring whether it was fired from within or without, we must try to extinguish it.”

IfsTryingStillsWarMatterHouseFireDutyPatrioticEndeavorInquiringDownsizing
Book:Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence
Create image

“A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public debt...If the game runs sometime against us at home, we must have patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at stake.”

PeopleIfsLittlesLongWarHomeGovernmentRunningSpiritSufferingTurnsOpportunityGamesWinningLostPeacePrinciplesHorrorSightLuckDebtEnormousOppressionWitchSpellsStakesReignRecoveringHaving PatienceIncurring
Author:Thomas Jefferson
Create image

“We are afraid of the known and afraid of the unknown. That is our daily life and in that there is no hope, and therefore every form of philosophy, every form of theological concept, is merely an escape from the actual reality of what is. All outward forms of change brought about by wars, revolutions, reformations, laws and ideologies have failed completely to change the basic nature of man and therefore of society.”

MenWarPhilosophyRealityFormLawDeathKnownAtheismDyingRevolutionConceptsAtheistIdeologyDaily LifeAgnosticReformationTheologicalNo HopeNature Of Man
Author:Thomas Jefferson
Create image