Thomas Jefferson Quotes (page 2)

1743-1826, Third President of the USA
quotes
116
topics
12
Origin
What do these mean?
Topic
“I have not observed men's honesty to increase with their riches.”
Money
“For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead...”
Truth
“I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.”
VerifiedLetter to John Adams (1 August 1816) · evidenceDreams
“I have no ambition to govern men. It is a painful and thankless office”
Government
“That government is the strongest of which every man feels himself a part.”
Government
“Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.”
VerifiedLetter to his Italian friend, Philip Mazzei (1796) · evidenceLiberty
“Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.”
Opinions
“Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very fast.”
Exercise
“When angry, count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred.”
Anger
“When a man assumes a public trust he should consider himself a public property.”
Politicians and Politics
“Do not bite at the bait of pleasure, till you know there is no hook beneath it.”
Pleasure
“My only fear is that I may live too long. This would be a subject of dread to me.”
Age and Aging
“I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”
MisattributedNot by Thomas Jefferson. Earliest known source: Coleman Cox, Listen to This (1922). · evidenceLuck
“The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.”
Brevity
“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.”
Truth
“There is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents.”
VerifiedLetter to John Adams (28 October 1813) · evidenceAristocracy
“The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.”
VerifiedLetter to Edward Carrington, Paris (27 May 1788) · evidenceLiberty
“Politics are such a torment that I would advise every one I love not to mix with them.”
Politicians and Politics
“No man will ever bring out of the Presidency the reputation which carries him into it.”
President
“Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.”
VerifiedFirst Inaugural Address (1801) · evidenceAlliances
“It is the trade of lawyers to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour.”
Law and Lawyers
“It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquillity and occupation which give happiness.”
Occupation
“In matters of principals, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current.”
Principles
“To myself, personally, it brings nothing but increasing drudgery and daily loss of friends.”
Friends and Friendship
“I think with the Romans, that the general of today should be a soldier tomorrow if necessary.”
Generals
“My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.”
Government
“A little rebellion now and then... is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government.”
Medicine
“A mind always employed is always happy. This is the true secret, the grand recipe, for felicity.”
Happiness
“The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of all the exercises walking is the best.”
Health
“I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.”
Injustice