Thomas Jefferson, one of the famous American Founding Fathers, was born on the thirteenth of April, one thousand seven hundred and forty-three. He is best known for his authorship of the Declaration of Independence and his time as John Adams' vice president before becoming the third president of the United States in 1801. Being a prominent political figure, Thomas often addressed the people with inspiring speeches, quotes from which can now be found in the most different sources. Below have been collected the best sayings of the great Founding Father.
Activities of Thomas Jefferson
In the years following the writing of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson worked to put his words into practice in Virginia, and less than a decade later he wrote a bill establishing religious freedom.
During his presidency, Thomas cut military spending, cut the budget, and abolished the whiskey tax, while reducing the national debt by more than thirty percent. The man died in one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six at the age of eighty-three. Jefferson served his country for more than fifty years of his life as a government official, historian, and philosopher.
His famous quotes and sayings
The following quotes from Thomas Jefferson are a representation of his life as an inspiring symbol for both major political parties in the United States:
- “Nothing can stop a man with the right frame of mind from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help a person with a wrong frame of mind.”
- “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”
- “When you're angry, count to ten before you speak. If you are very angry, count to one hundred."
- “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 them are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
- “The care of human life and happiness, and not the destruction of them, is the first and only object of good government.”
- “Experience shows that even with the most best forms rule, those entrusted with power over time turned it into tyranny.”
- “The tree of liberty must from time to time be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
- “I never considered differences in views on politics, religion, philosophy as a reason for leaving a friend.”
Key Ideas of Thomas Jefferson
His presidential vision impressively combined philosophical principles with pragmatic efficiency as a politician. Jefferson's most fundamental political belief was "absolute agreement with the decisions of the MAJORITY." Based on his deep optimism about the human mind, Thomas believed that the WILL OF THE PEOPLE, as expressed through elections, was the most appropriate guide to directing the course of the country.
His achievements
The Declaration of Independence was a formal declaration that the United States was no longer part of the British Empire. The committee formed to create it voted to have Jefferson write the document. The Declaration has proven to be the inspiration for numerous national declarations around the world.
The second sentence of the declaration, in which Thomas first used the famous phrase "All men are created equal", became a widely known statement of human rights and has been called "the most powerful and meaningful words in American history."
Conclusion
Thomas Jefferson made great contributions to the development of the United States as a politician, statesman, diplomat, intellectual, writer, scientist and philosopher. No other figure among the Founding Fathers shared the depth and breadth of his comprehensive intelligence. His wisdom and eloquence could be seen in his manner of speaking during public appearances. To this day we can see his statements quoted in literature and cinema.
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Jefferson, Thomas (1743–1826), US President
History, generally speaking, only shows us what bad government is.
It's rare to hear that someone ate too little.
Delay is better than a mistake.
How much misfortunes that never happened cost us!
If principles prevail over the law, then the government has completely decayed.
A person invested with the trust of society must look upon himself as public property.
My confession consists of me alone.
A businessman has no fatherland.
Don't try to do more good than people can handle.
For the most part, people are more inclined to suffer than to fight to eliminate the cause of suffering.
In matters of power, let’s stop listening to people about trust, and let’s put a barrier against his maliciousness, shackling him with the chains of the constitution.
In matters of style, go with the flow; in matters of principle, stand firm like a rock.
To introduce laws that contradict the laws of nature means to generate crimes in order to punish them later.
Politeness is an artificial thing.
Politeness is the habit of sacrificing small conveniences.
War is as much a punishment for those who carry it out as for those who suffer from it.
The will of the people is the only legitimate basis of any government, and protecting its free expression must be our first goal.
The whole art of management consists in the art of being honest.
Only those people who are constantly aware of what is happening have the right to choose their government.
It is much more dangerous if a guilty person is punished without following the law than if he avoids punishment at all.
For the selfish spirit of commerce there is no homeland, no feelings, no principles - only profit.
For society, a riot is no less useful than a thunderstorm is for nature... It is a medicine necessary for the health of the government.
The disasters that cost us the most are those that never befall us.
The tree of liberty must be watered from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. This is its natural fertilizer.
If I had to decide which to prefer - a government without newspapers or a newspaper without a government - I would not hesitate for a moment to prefer the latter.
I strongly believe in luck. And I noticed: the more I work, the luckier I am.
If I could not get to heaven except with the party, I would give it up completely.
If wine is cheap, people don't get drunk.
If you are angry, count to ten before you speak; If you are very angry, count to one hundred.
The living and lasting meaning of filial duty is comprehended in the mind of a son or daughter more quickly by reading King Lear than by studying hundreds of boring volumes on ethics and divine commandments.
Concern for human life and happiness, and not for their destruction, is the first and only legitimate task of good government.
Laws and regulations must go hand in hand with the progress of the human soul.
Laws are written for ordinary people, so they must be based on simple common sense rules.
The patch should be proportionate to the hole.
The implementation of laws is more important than their publication.
Using part of the people to keep the rest of the people in line is an old trick of despots.
When I remember that God is just, I shudder with fear for my homeland.
It is better not to let the wolf into the sheepfold than to hope that you will be able to pull out his teeth when he gets in there.
Smallholders are the most valuable part of the state.
My homeland is where there is freedom.
We hold to the self-evident truth that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Our freedom depends on the freedom of the press and cannot be limited without being lost.
A little uprising every now and then... is the medicine needed for good health government.
No government can exist without censorship: where the press is free, no one is free.
Never buy something because it's cheap; it will end up costing you dearly.
After leaving the presidency, no one retains the reputation with which he assumed it.
The advertisements contain the only truth that should be trusted in the newspaper.
The habit of drinking strong drinks by officials causes more harm to society than all other concerns.
The sermon should be our lives, not our words.
The legal profession is about questioning everything, disagreeing with nothing and talking endlessly.
Equal rights for everyone, special privileges for no one.
Rarely is public opinion immoral or stupid, and a person whose opinion differs from public opinion should doubt and test his opinion well.
Republican government is slow to advance, and yet, once it has moved, its inertia becomes irresistible.
The most difficult task for any official is to plant the right person to the right place.
Resistance to tyrants is submission to God.
Always strive to do your duty, and humanity will vindicate you even where you fail.
Those who work the earth are God's chosen people, if he ever had a chosen people, whose souls he would make his special contribution to the securing of reliable and sincere virtue.
A coward is much more likely to get involved in quarrels than a courageous person.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
Values are what people live by; religion is what and how they live.
A person who reads nothing is more educated than one who reads nothing but newspapers.
A person who is not afraid of the truth has nothing to fear from lies.
I have not noticed that people's honesty increases with their wealth.
I prefer to be remembered for the things I did for others, not for the things others did for me.
I agree with the idea that there is a natural aristocracy among people. The foundations for her are virtue and talent.
Thomas Jefferson - born April 13, 1743 Shadwell, Virginia. Author of the Declaration of Independence of the USA, 3rd President of the USA (1801-1809), one of the founding fathers of the USA, diplomat, philosopher. Died July 4, 1826 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Aphorisms, quotes, sayings Jefferson Thomas
- My homeland is where there is freedom.
- If wine is cheap, people don't drink.
- Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.
- Constant vigilance is the price of freedom.
- The sermon should be our lives, not our words.
- A person who is not afraid of the truth has nothing to fear from lies.
- A coward is much more likely to seek quarrels than a courageous person.
- The whole art of management consists in the art of being honest.
- Politeness is an artificially created good mood.
- I have not noticed that people's honesty increases with their wealth.
- Laws must go hand in hand with the progress of the human soul.
- I strongly believe in luck. And I noticed: the more I work, the luckier I am.
- From time to time the tree of freedom must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.
- He who trades his freedom for security receives neither.
- When it comes to style, go with the flow; in matters of principle, stand firm as a rock.
- Whenever I remember that God is just, I tremble for my country.
- A person who reads nothing is more educated than one who reads nothing but newspapers.
- For the selfish spirit of commerce there is no homeland, no feelings, no principles - only profit.
- For the most part, people are more inclined to suffer than to fight to eliminate the cause of suffering.
- If you are angry, count to ten before you speak; If you are very angry, count to one hundred.
- The most difficult task for any official is to put the right person in the right place.
- Only those people who are constantly aware of what is happening have the right to choose their government.
- Always strive to do your duty, and humanity will vindicate you even where you fail.
- To introduce laws that contradict the laws of nature means to generate crimes in order to punish them later.
- The legal profession is about questioning everything, disagreeing with nothing and talking endlessly.
- Laws are written for ordinary people, so they must be based on ordinary rules of common sense.
- For society, a riot is no less useful than a thunderstorm for nature. This is a medicine necessary for the health of the government.
- To care for human life and happiness, and not for their destruction, is the first and only legitimate task of good government.
- No government should be free from harsh criticism, and where there is freedom of the press, there will always be this criticism.
- I was fed by laws and this gave me an idea of dark side humanity. Then I began to read poetry to smooth out this impression and get acquainted with its bright side.
Thomas Jefferson(Thomas Jefferson; April 13, 1743 - July 4, 1826) - a prominent figure in the American Revolutionary War, one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence (1776), 3rd President of the United States in 1801-1809, one of its founding fathers.
Quotes
For the most part, people are more inclined to suffer than to fight to eliminate the cause of suffering.
To introduce laws that contradict the laws of nature means to generate crimes in order to punish them later.
Politeness is an artificially created good mood.
Politeness is the habit of sacrificing small conveniences.
The views and faith of men do not depend on their own will, but are involuntarily subject to the evidence offered to their minds.
The whole art of management consists in the art of being honest.
The whole work of government comes down to the art of being honest.
For the selfish spirit of commerce there is no homeland, no feelings, no principles - only profit.
For society, a riot is no less useful than a thunderstorm is for nature... It is a medicine necessary for the health of the government.
Laws must go hand in hand with the progress of the human soul.
Laws are written for ordinary people, so they must be based on ordinary rules of common sense.
Can the freedom of the people be considered secured if we have eliminated its only solid basis - the conviction of people that our freedoms are the gifts of God? That violence cannot be used against them without provoking the wrath of God? Truly, I fear for my country at the thought that God is just...
My homeland is where there is freedom.
No government should be free from harsh criticism, and where there is freedom of the press, there will always be this criticism.
Never buy a thing, seduced by its cheapness - such a thing will ultimately cost you dearly.
Nothing contributes more to the prosperity, power and happiness of a nation than education.
The sermon should be our lives, not our words.
The legal profession consists of questioning everything, disagreeing with nothing and talking endlessly.
The most difficult task for any official is to put the right person in the right place.
Always strive to do your duty, and humanity will vindicate you even where you fail.
Your own reason is the only oracle given to you by heaven, and you are responsible not for the correctness, but for the honesty of the decision.
A coward is much more likely to seek quarrels than a courageous person.
A person who is not afraid of the truth has nothing to fear from lies.
I have not noticed that people's honesty increases with their wealth.
I prefer to be remembered for the things I have done for others rather than for the things others have done for me.
I agree with the idea that there is a natural aristocracy among people. The foundations for her are virtue and talent.
I'm sure Russia (as long as its current monarch lives) is the most sincerely friendly country towards us of all the countries in the world; her services will be useful to us in the future, and we must seek first of all her favor... It is desirable that such feelings be shared by the entire nation.
Only error needs government support. Truth stands for itself.
The tree of freedom must be watered from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants; this is its natural fertilizer.
If nature has created something that you cannot possess to a greater extent than others, it is due to the influence of a mental force called an idea, which belongs to a person only as long as he keeps it with him; but as soon as it is announced, it becomes public property, and the one who gets it can no longer separate himself from it. Its peculiarity also lies in the fact that everyone does not possess just some part of it, but owns it entirely. And the one who received my idea from me perceives it himself, without belittling me; not a shadow, but a reflection of light it casts on me. Ideas must flow smoothly from one to another throughout to the globe for the moral and mutual instruction of man and the improvement of his condition, seem to have been deliberately benevolently intended by nature, when she made them to spread like fire throughout all space without diminishing their density at any point, and like the air in which we breathe, move and have our own physical existence and which cannot be limited or constitute exclusive property. Thus, inventions by their very nature cannot be owned.
The Christian God is a terribly unpleasant creature: cruel, vengeful, capricious and unjust.
Meaningless statements should be ridiculed. Before the mind can get down to business, the thought must be clearly formulated; but no one has ever had a clear definition of the Trinity. This is just gobbledegook of charlatans who call themselves priests of Jesus.
A conversation about immaterial existence is a conversation about nothing. To say that the human soul, angels, and God are immaterial is the same as admitting that they are nothing, that there is no God, no angels, no soul. I cannot think differently... without getting bogged down in the abyss of baseless dreams and fantasies. I am sufficiently comfortable and occupied with reality to be tormented and worried about things that may exist, but of which I have no knowledge.
Christianity is the most perverted system that humanity has encountered.
If you come to the conclusion that there is no God, then the motivation for virtue will be the joy and pleasure associated with virtuous actions, as well as the love of people with which they will respond to you.”
Shake off all the fears and obsequious prejudices before which weak minds slavishly grovel. Let reason guide you, trust it with every fact, every thought. Do not be afraid to question the very existence of God, for if He exists, then He will be more pleased with the light of reason than with blind fear.
