Quotes from Thomas Jefferson

vast accession of strength from their younger recruits, who having nothing in them of the feelings or principles of '76 now look to a single and splendid government of an Aristocracy, founded on banking institutions and monied in corporations under the guise and cloak of their favored branches of manufactures commerce and navigation, riding and ruling over the plundered ploughman and beggared yeomanry.

The contest is not between Us and Them, but between Good and Evil, and if those who would fight Evil adopt the ways of Evil, Evil wins.

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.

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

To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.

All men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

If anything pass in a religious meeting seditiously and contrary to the public peace, let it be punished in the same manner and no otherwise than as if it had happened in a fair or market.

That liberty [is pure] which is to go to all, and not to the few or the rich alone. (to Horatio Gates, 1798)

The cost of freedom is eternal vigilance.

But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare in the constitution they are forming that neither the legislature, nor the nation itself can validly contract more debt, than they may pay within their own age, or within the term of 19 years.

When angry, count ten before you speak; if very angry, a hundred.

What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.