Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. – Thomas Jefferson
It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid war but if it shall actually take place, no matter by whom brought on, we must defend ourselves. If our house be on fire, without inquiring whether it was fired from within or without, we must try to extinguish it. – Thomas Jefferson
I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind. – Thomas Jefferson
The most successful war seldom pays for its losses. – Thomas Jefferson
I have seen enough of one war never to wish to see another. – Thomas Jefferson
War is an instrument entirely inefficient toward redressing wrong and multiplies, instead of indemnifying losses. – Thomas Jefferson
Ignorance is preferable to error, and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong. – Thomas Jefferson
When a man assumes a public trust he should consider himself a public property. – Thomas Jefferson
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. – Thomas Jefferson
I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion. – Thomas Jefferson
Truth is certainly a branch of morality and a very important one to society. – Thomas Jefferson
It is in our lives and not our words that our religion must be read. – Thomas Jefferson
Difference of opinion is advantageous in religion. The several sects perform the office of a Censor – over each other. – Thomas Jefferson
Power is not alluring to pure minds. – Thomas Jefferson
The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people that… it is their right and duty to be at all times armed. – Thomas Jefferson
Our country is now taking so steady a course as to show by what road it will pass to destruction, to wit: by consolidation of power first, and then corruption, its necessary consequence. – Thomas Jefferson
I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend. – Thomas Jefferson
Peace and abstinence from European interferences are our objects, and so will continue while the present order of things in America remain uninterrupted. – Thomas Jefferson
Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing. – Thomas Jefferson
Never spend your money before you have earned it. – Thomas Jefferson
