A collection of quotes by Thomas Jefferson
3rd President of the United States

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
- Quote by President Thomas Jefferson

I have never been able to conceive how any rational being could propose happiness to himself from the exercise of power over others.
Thomas Jefferson

Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.
- Quote by President Thomas Jefferson

We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
- Quotes by President Thomas Jefferson

Every generation needs a new revolution.
- Quote by President Thomas Jefferson

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 inferences.
- Quote by President Thomas Jefferson

The tax which will be paid for the purpose of education is not more than the thousandth part of what will be paid to kings, priests and nobles who will rise up among us if we leave the people in ignorance.
- Quotes by President Thomas Jefferson

Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day.
Thomas Jefferson

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.
- Quote by President Thomas Jefferson

Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plenitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law,' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.
- Quotes by President Thomas Jefferson

I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be.
Thomas Jefferson

The Arch, formally known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, dedicated to President Thomas Jefferson's dream of a continental U.S. that was created by his Louisiana Purchase.
- Quote by Mary Hendron

He who receives ideas from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine receives light without darkening me.
- Quote by President Thomas Jefferson

Above all things I hope the education of the common people will be attended to, convinced that on their good sense we may rely with the most security for the preservation of a due degree of liberty.
- Quote by President Thomas Jefferson

Every people may establish what form of government they please, and change it as they please, the will of the nation being the only thing essential.
- Quote by President Thomas Jefferson

I hope we shall take warning from the example of England and crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations which dare already to challenge our Government to trial, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.
- Quotes by President Thomas Jefferson

History, in general, only informs us of what bad government is.
- Quote by President Thomas Jefferson

Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains.” - Quote by President Thomas Jefferson

I thought the work would be very innocent, and one which might be confined to the reason of any man; not likely to be much read if let alone, but, if persecuted, it will be vindication of his rights to buy, and to read what he pleases.
- Quote by President Thomas Jefferson

It is strangely absurd to suppose that a million human beings, collected together, are not under the same moral laws which bind each of them separately.
- Quote by President Thomas Jefferson

Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail.
- Quote by President Thomas Jefferson

The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object.” - Quotes by President Thomas Jefferson

Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights.
- Quotes by President Thomas Jefferson