Thomas Jefferson was an American statesman and Founding Father who served as the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was the nation’s first secretary of state (1789–94) and second vice president (1797–1801) and the third president (1801–09). He was a vociferous advocate of democracy, republicanism, and individual rights. Jefferson has come under increasing critical scrutiny within the scholarly world. He had held ownership of more than 600 enslaved people during his lifetime.
Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743. Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. The document’s social and political ideals were proposed by Jefferson before the inauguration of Washington. He has left a legacy, being hailed as an icon of individual liberty, democracy, and republicanism and thus, in essence, framed the principles which America follows. He passed away on July 4, 1826.
1 I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. -Thomas Jefferson
Politicians need to be kept in check. There must be rebellions springing up every now and then just to keep the government in check or at times, even to change the tide of the political world.
2 The equal rights of man and the happiness of every individual, are now acknowledged to be the only legitimate objects of government. -Thomas Jefferson
The primary objective of any government is to ensure its citizens access to equal opportunities and to protect their personal liberty. The people’s happiness and well-being should be paramount and their only aspirations.
3 Whenever a man has cast a longing eye on offices, a rottenness begins in his conduct. -Thomas Jefferson
An aspiration for power corrupts one’s morals. By striving to acquire power and authority, one loses sight of their own conscience and moral codes.
4 Power is not alluring to pure minds. -Thomas Jefferson
Power corrupts even the purest. And the truly wise understand this. They do not aspire to hold power or authority for they know the immorality of power.
5 Educate and inform the whole mass of the people, they are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty. -Thomas Jefferson
Only through education can the people come to realise the power they hold. An ill-informed society will never be able to hold onto their liberty.
6 To penetrate and dissipate these clouds of darkness, the general mind must be strengthened by education. -Thomas Jefferson
Only education has the power to drive away the darkness that blankets the society. Ignorance, prejudice, hate and violence can all be fought and avoided only with the wide-spread education of the masses.
7 Where the press is free and every man is able to read, all is safe. -Thomas Jefferson
The media is the fourth pillar of democracy and one that is paramount to its survival. A free press is what ensures proper information to the masses. Without it, a democracy will soon crumble into chaos.
8 Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask, Act! Action will delineate and define you. -Thomas Jefferson
It is not your thoughts that define you but your actions. Stop thinking about who you are and instead act on it. Action is what takes you forward.
9 In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. -Thomas Jefferson
There are times you have to go with the flow, follow the crowd and times when you have to stand firm, even if alone. Stay true to your principles and never bend to the whims of others no matter how tempting they may seem.
10 Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. -Thomas Jefferson
Honesty is the first thing that one needs to learn. Without honesty there is no wisdom. To stand by the truth, regardless of what you may have to face, requires courage and strength.
11 I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past. -Thomas Jefferson
Mankind’s history is saturated with injustice, barbarism and violence. Our history is not something to be proud of. And the only thing we can do is hope for a better future and pursue that.
12 Think as you please, and so let others, and you will have no disputes. -Thomas Jefferson
What one needs to understand is that they have no say in what others should think. People have the right to be what they want and you cannot intrude upon that.
13 I hope our wisdom will grow without power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be. -Thomas Jefferson
The more we exercise power the lesser it gets. True power comes with wisdom. And only the wise know that power is corrupt.
14 I’m a greater believer in luck, and I find that the harder I work, the more I have of it. -Thomas Jefferson
You make your own luck. And the harder you work, the more luck you have. Luck is not any divine intervention but just a result of your perseverance and hard work.
15 A democracy is nothing more than mob-rule, where fifty-one percent may take away the rights of the other forty-nine. -Thomas Jefferson
In a democracy, the will of the majority is exercised over the other minority. And this is nothing more than just a form of mob rule, where the opinions of minorities are inevitably unheard.
16 Most bad government has grown out of too much government. -Thomas Jefferson
Too much power in the hands of a few eventually corrupts them. Afterall, absolute power corrupts absolutely. More the authority and power vested on the government, the worse it becomes.
16 Remarkable Quotes By Thomas Jefferson!
1. I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. -Thomas Jefferson
2. The equal rights of man and the happiness of every individual, are now acknowledged to be the only legitimate objects of government. -Thomas Jefferson
3. Whenever a man has cast a longing eye on offices, a rottenness begins in his conduct. -Thomas Jefferson
4. Power is not alluring to pure minds. -Thomas Jefferson
5. Educate and inform the whole mass of the people, they are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty. -Thomas Jefferson
6. To penetrate and dissipate these clouds of darkness, the general mind must be strengthened by education. -Thomas Jefferson
7. Where the press is free and every man is able to read, all is safe. -Thomas Jefferson
8. Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask, Act! Action will delineate and define you. -Thomas Jefferson
9. In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. -Thomas Jefferson
10. Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. -Thomas Jefferson
11. I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past. -Thomas Jefferson
12. Think as you please, and so let others, and you will have no disputes. -Thomas Jefferson
13. I hope our wisdom will grow without power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be. -Thomas Jefferson
14. I’m a greater believer in luck, and I find that the harder I work, the more I have of it. -Thomas Jefferson
15. A democracy is nothing more than mob-rule, where fifty-one percent may take away the rights of the other forty-nine. -Thomas Jefferson
16. Most bad government has grown out of too much government. -Thomas Jefferson
