Thomas Jefferson
68 quotations
Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.
The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.
The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave.
Always take hold of things by the smooth handle.
When angry, count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred.
There is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents.
I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.
I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.
I have not observed men's honesty to increase with their riches.
It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquillity and occupation which give happiness.
Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.
Do not bite at the bait of pleasure, till you know there is no hook beneath it.
Banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies.
When a man assumes a public trust he should consider himself a public property.
Politics are such a torment that I would advise every one I love not to mix with them.
No man will ever bring out of the Presidency the reputation which carries him into it.
Pride costs more than hunger, thirst and cold.
In matters of principals, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current.
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
We rarely repent of having eaten too little.
Resort is had to ridicule only when reason is against us.
Speeches that are measured by the hour will die with the hour.
We confide in our strength, without boasting of it; we respect that of others, without fearing it.
I cannot live without books.
The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.