Thomas Jefferson

I find that he is happiest of whom the world says least, good or bad.

In truth, politeness is artificial good humor, it covers the natural want of it, and ends by rendering habitual a substitute nearly equivalent to the real virtue.

It takes time to persuade men to do even what is for their own good.

I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another.

The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.

A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circlue of our felicities.

The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.

It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God.

If God is just, I tremble for my country.

I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.

I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just that his justice cannot sleep forever.

Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations entangling alliances with none.

Friendship is but another name for an alliance with the follies and the misfortunes of others. Our own share of miseries is sufficient: why enter then as volunteers into those of another?

Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.

Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits.

Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading. I will rather say more necessary because health is worth more than learning.

My only fear is that I may live too long. This would be a subject of dread to me.

There is not a truth existing which I fear... or would wish unknown to the whole world.

I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master.