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Thomas Jefferson

Political Figure

Thomas Jefferson, a founding father and author of the Declaration of Independence, championed liberty, reason, and the pursuit of knowledge. His quotes reflect his deep belief in freedom, education, and civic responsibility. Together, they offer timeless insights on leadership, personal integrity, and the principles that shape a just society.

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The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money.
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XXX
Topic: Inspirational
Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.
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XXX
Topic: Motivational
They (religions) dread the advance of science as witches do the approach of daylight and scowl on the fatal harbinger announcing the subversions of the duperies on which they live.
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XXX
Topic: Religion
I [am] obliged to recur ultimately to my habitual anodyne, "I feel: therefore I exist." I feel bodies which are not myself: there are other existencies then. I call them "matter". I feel them changing place. This gives me "motion". Where there is an absence of matter, I call it "void", or "nothing", or "immaterial space". On the basis of sensation, of matter and motion, we may erect the fabric of all the certainties we can have or need.
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XXX
Topic: Philosophical
Of all the cankers of human happiness, none corrodes it with so silent, yet so baneful, a tooth, as indolence.
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XXX
Topic: Happiness
Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.
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XXX
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
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XXX
Topic: Philosophical, Religion
All are dead, and ourselves left alone amidst a new generation whom we know not, and who know us not.
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XXX
Topic: Death
Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time, who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done, if we are always doing.
From Letters of Thomas Jefferson
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XXX
Topic: Inspirational
I haven't failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work.
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XXX
Topic: Success
I may grow rich by an art I am compelled to follow; I may recover health by medicines I am compelled to take against my own judgment; but I cannot be saved by a worship I disbelieve and abhor.
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XXX
Topic: Religion
He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. That ideas should freely spread from one to another over the globe, for the moral and mutual instruction of man, and improvement of his condition, seems to have been peculiarly and benevolently designed by nature, when she made them, like fire, expansible over all space, without lessening their density in any point, and like the air in which we breathe, move, and have our physical being, incapable of confinement or exclusive appropriation.
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XXX
Topic: Education
This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.
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XXX
Topic: Education
I am satisfied, and sufficiently occupied with the things which are, without tormenting or troubling myself about those which may indeed be, but of which I have no evidence.
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XXX
Topic: Religion
The main objects of all science, the freedom and happiness of man. . . . [are] the sole objects of all legitimate government.

(A plaque with this quotation, with the first phrase omitted, is in the stairwell of the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.)
From Thomas Jefferson: Writings
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XXX
Topic: Happiness
Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of Liberty.
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XXX
Topic: Life
There is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequal people.
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XXX
Topic: Education, Philosophical
wherever the people are well informed they can be trusted with their own government
From Letters of Thomas Jefferson
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XXX
Topic: Education
If you want something you've never had
You must be willing to do something you've never done.
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XXX
Topic: Inspirational
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.
From Letters of Thomas Jefferson
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XXX
Topic: Life
It be urged that the wild and uncultivated tree, hitherto yielding sour and bitter fruit only, can never be made to yield better; yet we know that the grafting art implants a new tree on the savage stock, producing what is most estimable in kind and degree. Education, in like manner, engrafts a new man on the native stock, and improves what in his nature was vicious and perverse into qualities of virtue and social worth.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Education
I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Religion
Neither Pagan nor Mahamedan nor Jew ought to be excluded from the civil rights of the Commonwealth because of his religion. -quoting John Locke's argument.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Religion
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 blind-folded fear.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Religion
The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Inspirational
Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Motivational
They (religions) dread the advance of science as witches do the approach of daylight and scowl on the fatal harbinger announcing the subversions of the duperies on which they live.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Religion
I [am] obliged to recur ultimately to my habitual anodyne, "I feel: therefore I exist." I feel bodies which are not myself: there are other existencies then. I call them "matter". I feel them changing place. This gives me "motion". Where there is an absence of matter, I call it "void", or "nothing", or "immaterial space". On the basis of sensation, of matter and motion, we may erect the fabric of all the certainties we can have or need.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Philosophical
Of all the cankers of human happiness, none corrodes it with so silent, yet so baneful, a tooth, as indolence.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Happiness
Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Philosophical, Religion
All are dead, and ourselves left alone amidst a new generation whom we know not, and who know us not.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Death
Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time, who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done, if we are always doing.
From Letters of Thomas Jefferson
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Inspirational
I haven't failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Success
I may grow rich by an art I am compelled to follow; I may recover health by medicines I am compelled to take against my own judgment; but I cannot be saved by a worship I disbelieve and abhor.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Religion
He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. That ideas should freely spread from one to another over the globe, for the moral and mutual instruction of man, and improvement of his condition, seems to have been peculiarly and benevolently designed by nature, when she made them, like fire, expansible over all space, without lessening their density in any point, and like the air in which we breathe, move, and have our physical being, incapable of confinement or exclusive appropriation.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Education
This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Education
I am satisfied, and sufficiently occupied with the things which are, without tormenting or troubling myself about those which may indeed be, but of which I have no evidence.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Religion
The main objects of all science, the freedom and happiness of man. . . . [are] the sole objects of all legitimate government.

(A plaque with this quotation, with the first phrase omitted, is in the stairwell of the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.)
From Thomas Jefferson: Writings
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Happiness
Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of Liberty.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Life
There is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequal people.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Education, Philosophical
wherever the people are well informed they can be trusted with their own government
From Letters of Thomas Jefferson
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Education
If you want something you've never had
You must be willing to do something you've never done.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Inspirational
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.
From Letters of Thomas Jefferson
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Life
It be urged that the wild and uncultivated tree, hitherto yielding sour and bitter fruit only, can never be made to yield better; yet we know that the grafting art implants a new tree on the savage stock, producing what is most estimable in kind and degree. Education, in like manner, engrafts a new man on the native stock, and improves what in his nature was vicious and perverse into qualities of virtue and social worth.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Education
I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Religion
Neither Pagan nor Mahamedan nor Jew ought to be excluded from the civil rights of the Commonwealth because of his religion. -quoting John Locke's argument.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Religion
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 blind-folded fear.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Religion
The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Inspirational
Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Motivational
They (religions) dread the advance of science as witches do the approach of daylight and scowl on the fatal harbinger announcing the subversions of the duperies on which they live.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Religion
I [am] obliged to recur ultimately to my habitual anodyne, "I feel: therefore I exist." I feel bodies which are not myself: there are other existencies then. I call them "matter". I feel them changing place. This gives me "motion". Where there is an absence of matter, I call it "void", or "nothing", or "immaterial space". On the basis of sensation, of matter and motion, we may erect the fabric of all the certainties we can have or need.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Philosophical
Of all the cankers of human happiness, none corrodes it with so silent, yet so baneful, a tooth, as indolence.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Happiness
Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Philosophical, Religion
All are dead, and ourselves left alone amidst a new generation whom we know not, and who know us not.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Death
Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time, who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done, if we are always doing.
From Letters of Thomas Jefferson
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Inspirational
I haven't failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Success
I may grow rich by an art I am compelled to follow; I may recover health by medicines I am compelled to take against my own judgment; but I cannot be saved by a worship I disbelieve and abhor.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Religion
He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. That ideas should freely spread from one to another over the globe, for the moral and mutual instruction of man, and improvement of his condition, seems to have been peculiarly and benevolently designed by nature, when she made them, like fire, expansible over all space, without lessening their density in any point, and like the air in which we breathe, move, and have our physical being, incapable of confinement or exclusive appropriation.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Education
This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Education
I am satisfied, and sufficiently occupied with the things which are, without tormenting or troubling myself about those which may indeed be, but of which I have no evidence.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Religion
The main objects of all science, the freedom and happiness of man. . . . [are] the sole objects of all legitimate government.

(A plaque with this quotation, with the first phrase omitted, is in the stairwell of the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.)
From Thomas Jefferson: Writings
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Happiness
Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of Liberty.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Life
There is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequal people.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Education, Philosophical
wherever the people are well informed they can be trusted with their own government
From Letters of Thomas Jefferson
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Education
If you want something you've never had
You must be willing to do something you've never done.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Inspirational
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.
From Letters of Thomas Jefferson
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Life
It be urged that the wild and uncultivated tree, hitherto yielding sour and bitter fruit only, can never be made to yield better; yet we know that the grafting art implants a new tree on the savage stock, producing what is most estimable in kind and degree. Education, in like manner, engrafts a new man on the native stock, and improves what in his nature was vicious and perverse into qualities of virtue and social worth.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Education
I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Religion
Neither Pagan nor Mahamedan nor Jew ought to be excluded from the civil rights of the Commonwealth because of his religion. -quoting John Locke's argument.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Religion
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 blind-folded fear.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
XXX
Topic: Religion
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