Thomas Jefferson

Wouldn't it be great if our current Politicians were as wise?

“When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.” Thomas Jefferson, “To James Madison, Paris, December 20, 1787,” in The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 2, ed. H. A. Washington (New York: John C. Riker, 1853), 332.

“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” Thomas Jefferson quoted in John Galt, Dreams Come Due (Simon and Schuster, 1986), 312.

“It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes—a principle which, if acted on, would save one-half the wars of the world.” Thomas Jefferson, “Letter to Destutt Tracy, 1820,” in The Quotable Founding Fathers, ed. Buckner F. Melton (Brassey’s, 2004), 126.

“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” Thomas Jefferson, quoted in Robert S. Minor, The Rebirth of a Nation (Third Century Fund, 1978), 138.

“My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.” Thomas Jefferson, quoted in The Forbes Book of Business Quotations, ed. Edward C. Goodman and Ted Goodman (Leventhal, 1997), 361.

“No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms.” Thomas Jefferson, quoted in Zell Miller, A National Party No More (Stroud and Hall, 2003) ,120.

“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” Thomas Jefferson, quoted in Walter Edward Williams, Do the Right Thing (Hoover, 1995), 149.

“To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” Thomas Jefferson, quoted in Jeffrey M. Berry, A Voice for Nonprofits (Brookings Institution Press, 2005), 80.


“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property.” Thomas Jefferson, quoted in Robert F. Bruner, The Panic of 1907 (1907), 146.