Thomas Jefferson

Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.

Question with boldness even the existence of a God because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.

When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.

Experience demands that man is the only animal which devours his own kind, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor.

To penetrate and dissipate these clouds of darkness, the general mind must be strengthened by education.

I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.

One man with courage is a majority.

Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.

It behooves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others: or their case may, by change of circumstances, become his own.

Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very fast.

He who knows best knows how little he knows.

For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.

Wisdom I know is social. She seeks her fellows. But Beauty is jealous, and illy bears the presence of a rival.

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.

When angry count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred.

One travels more usefully when alone, because he reflects more.

It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.

Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.

In every country and every age, the priest had been hostile to Liberty.