Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jeffersonwas an American Founding Father who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. He was elected the second Vice President of the United States, serving under John Adams and in 1800 was elected the third President. Jefferson was a proponent of democracy, republicanism, and individual rights, which motivated American colonists to break from Great Britain and form a new nation. He produced formative documents and decisions at both the state and national level...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionUS President
Date of Birth13 April 1743
CityShadwell, VA
CountryUnited States of America
The small landholders are the most precious part of a state.
We are not to expect to be translated from despotism to liberty in a featherbed.
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 sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of all the exercises walking is the best.
Lethargy is the forerunner of death to the public liberty.
Do not be too severe upon the errors of the people, but reclaim them by enlightening them.
Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.
Private enterprise manages so much better all the concerns to which it is equal.
It must be observed that our revenues are raised almost wholly on imported goods.
The day is not distant when we must bear and adopt [the abolition of slavery], or worse will follow.
A government is republican in proportion as every member composing it has his equal voice in the direction of its concerns, not indeed in person, which would be impracticable beyond the limits of a city or small township, but by representatives chosen by himself and responsible to him at short periods.
A professorship of Theology should have no place in our institution [the University of Virginia]
Though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable.
An informed citizenry is the only true repository of the public will.