Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Related Quotes

Thomas Jefferson

Government can do something for the people only in proportion as it can do something to the people.

Enough | Government | History | Liberty | Need | Government |

Thomas Jefferson

Convinced that the republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind, my prayers and efforts shall be cordially distributed to the support of that we have so happily established. It is indeed an animating thought that, while we are securing the rights of ourselves and our posterity, we are pointing out the way to struggling nations who wish, like us, to emerge from their tyrannies also. Heaven help their struggles, and lead them, as it has done us, triumphantly thro' them.

Difficulty | Freedom | Liberty | Public | Restraint | Thought | Thought |

Thomas Jefferson

Any woodsman can tell you that in a broken and sundered nest, one can hardly find more than a precious few whole eggs. So it is with the family.

Liberty | Little | Security | Society | Will | Society |

Thomas Jefferson

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.

Intention | Liberty | Power | Public |

Thomas Jefferson

And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

Barbarism | Liberty | Light | Science | Will | Work |

Thomas Jefferson

Our liberty depends on freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.

Danger | Freedom | Liberty | Danger |

Thomas Jefferson

Rise at a fixed and an early hour, and go to bed at a fixed and early hour also. Sitting up late at night is injurious to the health and not useful to the mind.

Action | Law | Liberty | Rights | Will |

Thomas Jefferson

Some are whigs, liberals, democrats, call them what you please. Others are tories, serviles, aristocrats, andc. The latter fear the people, and wish to transfer all power to the higher classes of society; the former consider the people as the safest depository of power in the last resort; they cherish them therefore, and wish to leave in them all the powers to the exercise of which they are competent.

Attention | Degeneracy | Evil | Good | Government | Health | Liberty | Little | Mankind | Observation | Public | Punishment | Rights | Sound | Truth | Will | World | Government |

Thomas Jefferson

The care of every man's soul belongs to himself. But what if he neglect the care of it? Well what if he neglect the care of his health or his estate, which would more nearly relate to the state. Will the magistrate make a law that he not be poor or sick? Laws provide against injury from others; but not from ourselves. God himself will not save men against their wills.

Liberty |

Thomas Jefferson

The Habeas Corpus secures every man here, alien or citizen, against everything which is not law, whatever shape it may assume.

Liberty | Men | Time |

Thomas Jefferson

It is as useless to argue with those who have renounced the use and authority of reason as to administer medication to the dead.

Business | Liberty | People | Safe | Business |

Thomas Jefferson

Let what will be said or done, preserve your sang-froid immovably, and to every obstacle, oppose patience, perseverance, and soothing language.

Harmony | Heart | Intolerance | Land | Liberty | Life | Life | Little | Mankind |

Thomas Jefferson

That one hundred and fifty lawyers should do business together ought not to be expected.

Liberty |

Thomas Jefferson

Of the various executive abilities, no one excited more anxious concern than that of placing the interests of our fellow-citizens in the hands of honest men, with understanding sufficient for their stations. No duty is at the same time more difficult to fulfil. The knowledge of character possessed by a single individual is of necessity limited. To seek out the best through the whole Union, we must resort to the information which from the best of men, acting disinterestedly and with the purest motives, is sometimes incorrect.

Action | Law | Liberty | Right | Rights | Will |

Thomas Jefferson

The oath he has taken to support the Constitution imperiously requires the instantaneous dismissing of such officer; and I hold the President criminal if he permitted such to remain. To appoint a monarchist to conduct the affairs of a Republic is like appointing an atheist to the priesthood.

Government | Liberty | Progress | Government |

Thomas Jefferson

It behooves our citizens to be on their guard, to be firm in their principles, and full of confidence in themselves. We are able to preserve our self- government if we will but think so.

Change | Conscience | Example | God | Liberty | Man | Right | God |

Thomas Jefferson

Our object is to secure self-government by the republicanism of our constitution, as well as by the spirit of the people; and to nourish and perpetuate that spirit. I am not among those who fear the people. They and not the rich are our dependence for continued freedom.

Freedom | Liberty |

Thomas Jefferson

The main objects of all science, the freedom and happiness of man, are the sole objects of all legitimate government.

Liberty | Writing |

Thomas Jefferson

We are now vibrating between too much and too little government, and the pendulum will rest finally in the middle.

Liberty |

Thomas Jefferson

We must train and classify the whole of our male citizens, and make military instruction a regular part of collegiate education. We can never be safe till this is done.

Liberty | Means | Precedent | Public | Society | Time | Will | Society |