169 Quotes By Thomas Jefferson


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

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

I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another.
Thomas Jefferson on good

It takes time to persuade men to do even what is for their own good.
Thomas Jefferson on good

In truth, politeness is artificial good humor, it covers the natural want of it, and ends by rendering habitual a substitute nearly equivalent to the real virtue.
Thomas Jefferson on good

I find that he is happiest of whom the world says least, good or bad.
Thomas Jefferson on good

The Creator has not thought proper to mark those in the forehead who are of stuff to make good generals. We are first, therefore, to seek them blindfold, and then let them learn the trade at the expense of great losses.
Thomas Jefferson on good

The good opinion of mankind, like the lever of Archimedes, with the given fulcrum, moves the world.
Thomas Jefferson on good

A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circlue of our felicities.
Thomas Jefferson on government

I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.
Thomas Jefferson on government

Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.
Thomas Jefferson on government

It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.
Thomas Jefferson on government

Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.
Thomas Jefferson on government

If we can but prevent the government from wasting the labours of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy.
Thomas Jefferson on government

When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.
Thomas Jefferson on government

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
Thomas Jefferson on government

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson on government

A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.
Thomas Jefferson on government

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

The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.
Thomas Jefferson on government