The time to guard against corruption and tyranny is before they shall have gotten hold of us. Thomas Jefferson More Quotes by Thomas Jefferson More Quotes From Thomas Jefferson [T]o preserve the republican form and principles of our Constitution and cleave to the salutary distribution of powers which that [the Constitution] has established . . . are the two sheet anchors of our Union. If driven from either, we shall be in danger of foundering. Thomas Jefferson distribution-of-poweranchorstwo The principle of the Constitution is that of a separation of legislative, Executive and Judiciary functions, except in cases specified. If this principle be not expressed in direct terms, it is clearly the spirit of the Constitution, and it ought to be so commented and acted on by every friend of free government. Thomas Jefferson governmentprinciplesspirit My construction of the constitution is very different from that you quote. It is that each department is truly independent of the others, and has an equal right to decide for itself what is the meaning of the constitution in the cases submitted to its action; and especially, where it is to act ultimately and without appeal. Thomas Jefferson independentdifferentaction I agree with you that it is the duty of every good citizen to use all the opportunities, which occur to him, for preserving documents relating to the history of our country. Thomas Jefferson presidentopportunitycountry I have often thought that nothing would do more extensive good at small expense than the establishment of a small circulating library in every county, to consist of a few well-chosen books, to be lent to the people of the country under regulations as would secure their safe return in due time. Thomas Jefferson safe-returncountrybook It is a principle that the right to a thing gives a right to the means without which it could not be used, that is to say, that the means follow their end. Thomas Jefferson principlesgivingmean It can never be too often repeated, that the time for fixing every essential right on a legal basis is while our rulers are honest, and ourselves united. Thomas Jefferson fixingrevolutionessentials Power is not alluring to pure minds. Thomas Jefferson governmentpowerfullife The natural cause of the human mind is certainly from credulity to skepticism. Thomas Jefferson cynicalcausesmind Every man has two countries: his own and France. Thomas Jefferson countries-of-the-worldmencountry One travels more usefully when alone, because he reflects more. Thomas Jefferson singlelonelinesstravel The rational and peaceable instrument of reform, the suffrage of the people. Thomas Jefferson reformvotingpeople If our country, when pressed with wrongs at the point of the bayonet, had been governed by its heads instead of its hearts, where should we have been now? Hanging on a gallows as high as Haman's. Thomas Jefferson wisdomheartcountry Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains, rather than do an immoral act. Thomas Jefferson moralitygiving-upearth I think all the world would gain by setting commerce at perfect liberty. Thomas Jefferson libertyperfectthinking It should be our endeavor to cultivate the peace and friendship of every nation . . . . Our interest will be to throw open the doors of commerce, and to knock off all its shackles, giving perfect freedom to all persons for the vent to whatever they may choose to bring into our ports, and asking the same in theirs. Thomas Jefferson perfectdoorsgiving Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains rather than do an immoral act. And never suppose that in any possible situation, or under any circumstances, it is best for you to do a dishonorable thing, however slightly so it may appear to you. Thomas Jefferson sublimegiving-uppractice Those who labour in the earth are the chosen people of God, if ever he had a chosen, people, whose breasts he has made his peculiar deposit for substantial and genuine virtue. Thomas Jefferson peculiarearthpeople I suppose, indeed, that in public life, a man whose political principles have any decided character and who has energy enough to give them effect must always expect to encounter political hostility from those of adverse principles. Thomas Jefferson givingcharactermen I had always hoped that the younger generation receiving their early impressions after the flame of liberty had been kindled in every breast . . . would have sympathized with oppression wherever found, and proved their love of liberty beyond their own share of it. Thomas Jefferson receivingflamesliberty
