Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson, (1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President

Thomas Jefferson Quote

“What a stupendous, what an incomprehensible machine is man! Who can endure toil, famine, stripes, imprisonment & death itself in vindication of his own liberty, and the next moment ... inflict on his fellow men a bondage, one hour of which is fraught with more misery than ages of that which he rose in rebellion to oppose.”

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson
~ Thomas Jefferson

letter to Jean Nicholas Demeunier, January 24, 1786

Ratings and Comments


Mike, Norwalk

great observation, ahhh, the hypocrisy

jim k, austin,tx

"When the government fears the people , there is liberty, when the people fear the government, there is tyrany". I believe Jefferson said this , and how do you feel when you get a friendly note from the IRS.

Guess Who?
  • Reply
    Guess Who?    5/1/08

    Well said Mr. Jefferson.I agree with this quote with one minor exception:It is my opinion that Man is Not a machine.To say so would detract from the spark of the Divine which is the touchstone of all life.Including humans.

    Waffler, Smith, Arkansas

    Y'a got love Tom! None of my acquaintances that I care to associate with never have a fear of a letter from the IRS.

    E Archer, NYC

    How true! Israel comes to mind as well as the US.

    warren, olathe

    I am not rich enough to fear the IRS. But I still don't like em.

    Ronw13, OR

    No sooner than the chains of tyranny are broken and cast off, they are readily put back on. Constructive Fraud committed by Congress and the IRS. 

    Ronw13, OR
    • Reply
    Ronw13, OR Ronw13, OR 9/12/18

    WWG1WGA MAGA Patriots.

    E Archer, NYC

    I often wonder what Jefferson would say of the US today?  The US has re-adopted many of the systems of monarchy and aristocracy that regulate the common people as 'subjects.'

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