Thomas Jefferson Philosophical Quotes — Page 19

Politician, Founding Father

Philosophical

“The functionaries of public power rarely strengthen in their dispositions to abridge it, and an unorganized call for timely amendment is not likely to prevail against an organized opposition to it. We are always told that things are going on well; Why change them? 'Chi sta bene, no si mueve,' said the Italian, 'let him who stands well, stand still.' This is true; and I verily believe they would go on well with us under an absolute monarch, while our present character remains, of order, industry and love of peace, and restrained as he would be, by the proper spirit of the people.”

Believe Character Italian

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Thomas Jefferson

Politician, Founding Father

Philosophical

“[My] pillar of support through life.... I can say conscientiously that I do not know in the world a man of purer integrity, more dispassionate, disinterested, and devoted to genuine Republicanism; nor could I in the whole scope of America and Europe point out an abler head.”

Men Europe Integrity

♥ 7

Philosophical

“An injured friend is the bitterest of foes.”

Friendship Presidential

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Philosophical

“The most successful war seldom pays for its losses.”

War Successful

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Philosophical

“Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.”

Evil Suffering Unalienable Rights

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Philosophical

“The attempt of Lavoisier to reform chemical nomenclature is premature. One single experiment may destroy the whole filiation of his terms; and his string of sulphates, sulphites, and sulphures, may have served no end than to have retarded the progress of science by a jargon, from the confusion of which time will be requisite to extricate us.”

Science Confusion Confusing

♥ 7

Philosophical

“Money, not morality, is the principle commerce of civilized nations.”

Church Pregnancy

♥ 7

Philosophical

“Paper is poverty, it is only the ghost of money, and not money itself.”

Historical Poverty

♥ 6

Philosophical

“May [our Declaration of Independence] be to the world, what I believe it will be (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all), the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government... All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man.”

Believe Eye Ignorance

♥ 7

Philosophical

“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.”

Order Safety Abuse

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Philosophical

“There is a debt of service due from every man to his country, proportioned to the bounties which nature and fortune have measured to him.”

Men Country Debt

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Philosophical

“The rights of the people to the exercise and fruits of their own industry can never be protected against the selfishness of rulers not subject to their control at short periods.”

People Rights Exercise

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Thomas Jefferson — Philosophical Quotes

Thomas Jefferson Quotes