Quotes from Thomas Jefferson

Such is the economy of nature, that no instance can be produced of her having permitted any one race of her animals to become extinct; of her having formed any link in her great work so weak as to be broken.

Not less than two hours a day should be devoted to exercise, and the weather should be little regarded.

If Americans desire to be both ignorant and free, they want what never has been and what never will be.

That government which governs best, governs least.

All are dead, and ourselves left alone amidst a new generation whom we know not, and who know us not.

When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.

He [Weishaupt] says, no one ever laid a surer foundation for liberty than our grand master, Jesus of Nazareth.

He who knows best knows how little he knows

Love your neighbor as yourself, and your country more than yourself.

A little attention however to the nature of the human mind evinces that the entertainments of fiction are useful as well as pleasant. That they are pleasant when well written, every person feels who reads. But wherein is its utility, asks the reverend sage, big with the notion that nothing can be useful but the learned lumber of Greek and Roman reading with which his head is stored? I answer, every thing is useful which contributes to fix us in the principles and practice of virtue.

I find friendship to be like wine. Raw when new. Ripened with age.

The women are submitted to unjust drudgery. This I believe is the case with every barbarous people. With such, force is law. The stronger sex therefore imposes on the weaker. It is civilization alone which replaces women in the enjoyment of their natural equality. That first teaches us to subdue the selfish passions, and to respect those rights in others which we value in ourselves. Were we in equal barbarism, our females would be equal drudges.

the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God

It was one of the rules which above all others made Doctr. Franklin the most amiable of men in society, never to contradict anybody.

There is a ripeness of time for death, regarding others as well as ourselves, when it is reasonable we should drop off, and make room for another growth. When we have lived our generation out, we should not wish to encroach on another.

It is in our lives, and not from our words, that our religion must be read.

The vote being passed, altho' further observn on it was out of order, he could not refrain from rising and expressing his satisfaction and concluded by saying there is but one word, Mr. President, in the paper which I disapprove, & that is the word Congress, on which Ben Harrison rose and said there is but on word in the paper, Mr. President, of which I approve, and that is the word Congress.

All is safe where all can read, is a quotation from Thomas Jefferson showing his belief in the importance of everyone knowing how to and being able/allowed to read. I would like to take it one step further. I would say, All is BETTER when all can read. No matter what you like to read, the ability to read it, understand it, and enjoy it, truly enriches your life.

History, by apprising [the people] of the past, will enable them to judge of the future.

Take things always by their smooth handle.

The opinions of men are not the object of civil government, nor under its jurisdiction.

I have indeed two great measures at heart, without which no republic can maintain itself in strength: 1. That of general education, to enable every man to judge for himself what will secure or endanger his freedom. 2. To divide every county into hundreds, of such size that all the children of each will be within reach of a central school in it

I regret that I am now to die in the belief, that the useless sacrifice of themselves by the generation of 1776, to acquire self-government and happiness to their country, is to be thrown away by the unwise and unworthy passions of their sons, and that my only consolation is to be, that I live not to weep over it.

History is philosophy teaching by examples.