Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s “Summary View of the Rights of British America,” July 1774 [Quote]
the whole art of government consists in the art of being honest.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s “Notes on the State of Virginia,” 1782 [Quote]
Every species of government has its specific principles. Ours perhaps are more peculiar than those of any other in the universe. It is a composition of the freest principles of the English constitution, with others derived from natural right and natural reason. To these nothing can be more...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s “Notes on the State of Virginia,” 1782 [Quote]
The error seems not sufficiently eradicated, that the operations of the mind, as well as the acts of the body, are subjects to the coercion of the laws. But our rulers can have authority over such natural rights only as we have submitted to them. The rights of conscience we never submitted, we...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s “Notes on the State of Virginia,” 1782 [Quote]
Was the government to prescribe to us our medicine and diet, our bodies would be in such keeping as our souls are now. [Query XVII, “Religion”]
Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s “Notes on the State of Virginia,” 1782 [Quote]
Reason and experiment have been indulged, and error has fled before them. It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself. [Query XVII, “Religion”]
Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s “Notes on the State of Virginia,” 1782 [Quote]
Is uniformity of opinion desirable? No more than face or stature ... Is uniformity attainable? Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned; yet we have not advance one inch towards uniformity. What has been...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s “Notes on the State of Virginia,” 1782 [Quote]
296,852, the number of free inhabitants, are to 270,762, the number of slaves ... Under the mild treatment our slaves experience, and their wholesome, though coarse, food, this blot in our country increases as fast, or faster, than the whites. During the regal government, we had at one time...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s “Notes on the State of Virginia,” 1782 [Quote]
The time to guard against corruption and tyranny, is before they shall have gotten hold on us. It is better to keep the wolf out of the fold, than to trust to drawing his teeth and talons after he shall have entered. [Query XIII, “Constitution”]
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 25 Sept. 1785 [Quote]
I fancy it must be the quantity of animal food eaten by the English which renders their character insusceptible of civilisation. I suspect it is in their kitchens & not in their churches that their reformation must be worked, & that Missionaries of that description from hence would avail...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Archibald Stuart, 25 Jan. 1786 [Quote]
I fear from an expression in your letter that the people of Kentucké think of separating, not only from Virginia (in which they are right,) but also from the confederacy. I own I should think this a most calamitous event, and such an one as every good citizen on both sides should set himself...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 16 Jan. 1787 [Quote]
I am persuaded myself that the good sense of the people will always be found to be the best army. they may be led astray for a moment, but will soon correct themselves. the people are the only censors of their governors: and even their errors will tend to keep these to the true principles of...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 16 Jan. 1787 [Quote]
the basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. but I...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 16 Jan. 1787 [Quote]
under pretence of governing they have divided their nations into two classes, wolves & sheep. I do not exaggerate. this is a true picture of Europe. cherish therefore the spirit of our people, and keep alive their attention. do not be too severe upon their errors, but reclaim them by...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 Jan. 1787 [Quote]
I am impatient to learn your sentiments on the late troubles in the Eastern states. so far as I have yet seen, they do not appear to threaten serious consequences. those states have suffered by the stoppage of the channels of their commerce, which have not yet found other issues. this must render...
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to C. W. F. Dumas, 14 June 1787 [Quote]
we promise ourselves good from the Convention holding at Philadelphia. it consists of the ablest men in America.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to David Hartley, 2 July 1787 [Quote]
I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Jones, 14 Aug. 1787 [Quote]
with all the defects of our constitutions, whether general or particular, the comparison of our governments with those of Europe are like a comparison of heaven & hell. England, like the earth, may be allowed to take the intermediate station.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 13 Nov. 1787 [Quote]
wonderful is the effect of impudent & persevering lying.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 20 Dec. 1787 [Quote]
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 inference.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 20 Dec. 1787 [Quote]
I think our governments will remain virtuous for many centuries; as long as they are chiefly agricultural; and this will be as long as there shall be vacant lands in any part of America. when they get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, they will become corrupt as in Europe.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 2 Feb. 1788 [Quote]
we are now vibrating between too much & too little government, & the pendulum will rest finally in the middle.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Ralph Izard, 17 July 1788 [Quote]
the example we have given to the world is single, that of changing the form of our government under the authority of reason only, without bloodshed.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Edward Rutledge, 18 July 1788 [Quote]
we can surely boast of having set the world a beautiful example of a government reformed by reason alone without bloodshed.
But the world is too far oppressed to profit of the example.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Richard Price, 8 Jan. 1789 [Quote]
wherever the people are well informed they can be trusted with their own government.
Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Lucy Ludwell Paradise, 1 June 1789 [Quote]
I am much indebted to you for your attention to my commission about the books, and am well pleased that those which went above the prices I noted, were not purchased. sensible that I labour grievously under the malady of Bibliomanie, I submit to the rule of buying only at reasonable prices, as to...