I own that I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive. – Thomas Jefferson
Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. – 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
Question with boldness even the existence of a God because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear. – Thomas Jefferson