- “Amplification is the vice of modern oratory.” ~Thomas Jefferson (1824)
- “It behooves you, therefore, to think and act for yourself and your people. The great principles of right and wrong are legible to every reader; to pursue them requires not the aid of many counselors.” ~Thomas Jefferson (1775)
- Man, once surrendering his reason, has no remaining guard against absurdities the most monstrous, and like a ship without rudder, is the sport of every wind. With such persons, gullibility, which they call faith, takes the helm from the hand of reason and the mind becomes a wreck.” ~Thomas Jefferson (1822)
- “There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time, till at length it becomes habitual.” ~Thomas Jefferson (1785)
- “Truth can stand by itself. Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors?” ~Thomas Jefferson (1781)
- “[M]an is not made to be trusted for life, if secured against all liability to account.” ~Thomas Jefferson (1823)
- “During the course of administration, and in order to disturb it, the artillery of the press has been levelled against us, charged with whatsoever its licentiousness could devise or dare. These abuses of an institution so important to freedom and science are deeply to be regretted, inasmuch as they tend to lessen its usefulness and to sap its safety.” ~Thomas Jefferson (1805)
- “Men of energy of character must have enemies; because there are two sides to every question, and taking one with decision, and acting on it with effect, those who take the other will of course be hostile in proportion as they feel that effect.” ~Thomas Jefferson (1817)
- “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
- “It is of great importance to set a resolution, not to be shaken, never to tell an untruth. There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time, till at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world’s believing him. This falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good disposition.” ~Thomas Jefferson (1785)
