I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.

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.

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

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

I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.

The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money.

In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.

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

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

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.

The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave.

Here was buried Thomas Jefferson Author of the Declaration of American Independence Of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom & Father of the University of Virginia.

Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.

Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.

Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

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

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

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.

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

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

I have done for my country, and for all mankind, all that I could do, and I now resign my soul, without fear, to my God - my daughter to my country.

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.

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.

Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.

I cannot live without books.

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.

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

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.

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

Happiness is not being pained in body or troubled in mind.

It is in our lives and not our words that our religion must be read.

Difference of opinion is advantageous in religion. The several sects perform the office of a Censor - over each other.

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.

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

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

A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.

History, in general, only informs us of what bad government is.

I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion.

A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, 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.

Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the form of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question.

The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.

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

So confident am I in the intentions, as well as wisdom, of the government, that I shall always be satisfied that what is not done, either cannot, or ought not to be done.

Truth is certainly a branch of morality and a very important one to society.

Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.

The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.

No government ought to be without censors; and where the press is free no one ever will.