Thomas Jefferson
(1743-1826)

birthdate: April 13
birthplace:
Shadwell, Virginia

QUOTES

CITIZENSHIP
"A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society."

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

CIVIL RIGHTS
Bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.

"The best principles of our republic secure to all its citizens a perfect equality of rights."

By a declaration of rights, I mean one which shall stipulate freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of commerce against monopolies, trial by juries in all cases, no suspensions of the habeas corpus, no standing armies. These are fetters against doing evil which no honest government should decline.

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.

DEMOCRACY
It is my principle that the will of the majority should always prevail.

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

ECOLOGY
"While the farmer holds the title to the land, actually, it belongs to all the people because civilization itself rests upon the soil."

ECONOMY
"I sincerely believe...that banking establishments are more dangerous that standing armies."

FAMILY
The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.

The happiness of the domestic fireside is the first boon of Heaven; and it is well it is so, since it is that which is the lot of the mass of mankind.

FREEDOM
We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.

GLOBALIZATION
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.

HAPPINESS

It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquillity and occupation which give happiness.

"The freedom and happiness of man... [are] the sole objects of all legitimate government."

Industry, commerce and security are the surest roads to the happiness and prosperity of people."

LABOR
A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.

LAW
Bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.

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

LIVING A LIFE OF COMPASSION
I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another.

"Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you and act accordingly."

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

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

RACISM
Bigotry is the disease of ignorance, of morbid minds; enthusiasm of the free and buoyant. Education and free discussion are the antidotes of both.

TOLERANCE
I never will, by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance or admit a right of inquiry into the religious opinions of others.

TRUTH
Ignorance is preferable to error, and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong.

VOLUNTEER
"May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion."

Kids | Youth | Adults | Calendar | Quotes | Heroes | Stories | The EMILY Fund | Scholarships
DO ONE THING and BetterWorld Kids Clubs are projects of The EMILY Fund (The Emily Silverstein Fund, Inc.)
Hero portraits are included for illustration purposes only - no celebrity endorsement implied

The Emily Fund
Education, Mentorship, Inspiration, Leadership, Youth
- for a Better
World

PO Box 430
Roosevelt, NJ 08555-0430
info@EmilyFund.org