Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Thomas Jefferson (American Head of State)

Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) was an American statesman, philosopher, and founding father. He served as the second U.S. vice president 1797–81 and the third president 1801–09. An intellectual with wide-ranging interests, from music, law, science, painting, and architecture to political philosophy and natural history, he wielded a towering influence on the political and intellectual life of the new nation.

A Democratic-Republican from Virginia, Jefferson played a significant leadership role during the American Revolution. He was the principal drafter of the 1776 Declaration of Independence. Subsequently, President George Washington persuaded Jefferson to serve as the first secretary of state (1789–93.)

While president, Jefferson finalized the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and sanctioned the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–06) to survey this vast territory. He was re-elected to a second term, but his poor handling of U.S. shipping and maritime policy made a third term impossible.

After retiring from political office, Jefferson lived in his Monticello estate in Virginia. He was also famously well-read and a great lover of books; the federal government purchased his magnificent personal book collection (6,487 volumes on history, philosophy, and fine arts) after the War of 1812 to form the core of the Library of Congress.

Jefferson was responsible for the chartering of the University of Virginia in 1819. He designed the campus and its buildings and served as the first rector of the university.

Jefferson also wrote numerous pieces of legislation, reports, observations, correspondences, essays, and even books on farming and gardening.

Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, few hours before his rival and friend John Adams died on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In his epitaph, composed during the last months of his life, Jefferson codified his legacy: “Author of the Declaration of Independence and of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia.”

Jefferson’s legacy is tainted by his ownership of slaves to support his lavish lifestyle, even if he opposed slavery in principle. He fathered at least one child with a slave.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Thomas Jefferson

The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Thought, Thoughts

The greatest calamity which could befall us would be submission to a government of unlimited powers.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Government

The most valuable of all talents is never using two words when one will do.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Talent, Meeting, Brevity, Words

The moral sense is the first excellence of well-organized man.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Excellence

A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inferences.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Government

One half of our brethren who fight and pay taxes, are excluded, like Helots, from the rights of representation, as if society were instituted for the soil, and not for the men inhabiting it; or one half of these could dispose of the rights and the will of the other half, without their consent.
—Thomas Jefferson

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
—Thomas Jefferson

Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Existence, Religion, Questions, Reason

Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains.
—Thomas Jefferson

I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage, with my books, my family and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post which any human power can give.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Family

I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: America, Prayer, Justice

Perfect happiness, I believe, was never intended by the Deity to be the lot of one of his creatures in this world ; but that he has very much put in our power the nearness of our approaches to it, is what I have steadfastly believed.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Unhappiness, Happiness

The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Government

Too old to plant trees for my own gratification, I shall do it for my posterity.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Gardening

The constitution, on this hypothesis, is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any form they please.
—Thomas Jefferson

The man who fears no truth has nothing to fear from lies.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Reason, Thought, Truth, Lies

I tolerate with the utmost latitude the right of others to differ from me in opinion.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Opinions

The ordinary affairs of a nation offer little difficulty to a person of any experience.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Experience

I, however, place economy among the first and most important of republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Economy

But let me beseech you, Sir, not to let this letter get into a newspaper. Tranquillity, at my age, is the supreme good of life. I think it a duty, and it is my earnest wish, to take no further part in public affairs. The abuse of confidence by publishing my letters has cost me more than all other pains.
—Thomas Jefferson

No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
The strongest reason for the people to retain
their right to keep and bear arms is as a last resort
to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
—Thomas Jefferson

Our greatest happiness in life does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits.
—Thomas Jefferson

It is more dangerous that even a guilty person should be punished without the forms of law than that he should escape.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Guilt

Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.
—Thomas Jefferson

If there be one principle more deeply rooted than any other in the mind of every American, it is that we should have nothing to do with conquest.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: War

Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. You may enjoy doing it so much that you want to do it again.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: The Present, Procrastination

A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Spirit, Coward, Cowardice

The persons and property of our citizens are entitled to the protection of our government in all places where they may lawfully go.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Government

Every State has a natural right in cases not within the compact casus non faederis to nullify of their own authority all assumptions of power by others within their limits. Without this right, they would be under the dominion, absolute and unlimited, of whosoever might exercise this right of judgment for them.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Assumptions, Government

I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.
—Thomas Jefferson
Topics: Power

Wondering Whom to Read Next?

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *