Skip to content

Thomas Jefferson Quotes

1743–1826 United States

Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743 – 4 July 1826) was author of the Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1777), founder of the University of Virginia (1819), the third president of the United States (1801–1809), a political philosopher, editor of Jefferson's Bible (1819), and one of the most influential founders of the United States.

United States
Architects
Lawyers
Non-fiction authors
Philosophers

Also known as: Jefferson, Jefferson, Thomas, Thomas jefferson, Jeffersonian

Random Thomas Jefferson quote

349 quotes

I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.

Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.

I have ever deemed it more honorable and profitable, too, to set a good example than to follow a bad one.

For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well organized and armed militia is their best security.

The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time; the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them.

Summary View of the Rights of British America (1774)

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty, than those attending too small a degree of it.

The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government.

We are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.

I am certainly not an advocate for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions.

Letter to H. Tompkinson (AKA Samuel Kercheval) (1816)

Christianity neither is, nor ever was, a part of the common law [this quote is referring to English Common Law].

Vol. 1 Whether Christianity is Part of the Common Law (1764)

I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past, — so good night!

Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day.

The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend all to the happiness of man.

Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.

Letter to Peter Carr (1787)

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.

Let the eye of vigilance never be closed.

Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations—entangling alliances with none.

One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them.

Letter to George Washington (1796)

Error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.

No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms [within his own lands].

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Thomas Jefferson (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.