Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page [261-280] of 579 President quotesPresident QuotesPresident Previous 20 quotes Next 20 quotes I... [proposed] three distinct grades of education, reaching all classes. 1. Elementary schools for all children generally, rich and poor. 2. Colleges for a middle degree of instruction, calculated for the common purposes of life and such as should be desirable for all who were in easy circumstances. And 3d. an ultimate grade for teaching the sciences generally and in their highest degree... The expenses of [the elementary] schools should be borne by the inhabitants of the county, every one in proportion to his general tax-rate. This would throw on wealth the education of the poor.~ Thomas Jefferson Reason and free inquiry are the only effective agents against error. Give a loose to them, they will support the true religion by bringing every false one to their tribunal, to the test of their investigation. They are the natural enemies of error and error only. Had not the Roman government permitted free inquiry, Christianity could never have been introduced. Had not free inquiry been indulged at the era of the Reformation, the corruption of Christianity could not have been purged away.~ Thomas Jefferson It is the great parent of science & of virtue: and that a nation will be great in both, always in proportion as it is free.~ Thomas Jefferson Choice by the people themselves is not generally distinguished for its wisdom.~ Thomas Jefferson Money and not morality is the principle of commerce and commercial nations.~ Thomas Jefferson The happiness and prosperity of our citizens is the only legitimate object of government.~ Thomas Jefferson 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 I have often thought that nothing would do more extensive good at small expense than the establishment of a small circulating library in every county, to consist of a few well-chosen books, to be lent to the people of the country under regulations as would secure their safe return in due time.~ Thomas Jefferson The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his Father, in the womb of a virgin will be classified with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter. But we may hope that the dawn of reason and freedom of thought in these United States will do away with this artificial scaffolding and restore to us the primitive and genuine doctrines of this most venerated Reformer of human errors.~ Thomas Jefferson I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage with my books, my family and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post, which any human power can give.~ Thomas Jefferson Our legislators are not sufficiently apprized of the rightful limits of their power; that their true office is to declare and enforce only our natural rights and duties, and to take none of them from us. No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another; and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain him; every man is under the natural duty of contributing to the necessities of the society; and this is all the laws should enforce on him; and, no man having a natural right to be the judge between himself and another, it is his natural duty to submit to the umpirage of an impartial third. When the laws have declared and enforced all this, they have fulfilled their functions, and the idea is quite unfounded, that on entering into society we give up any natural right.~ Thomas Jefferson The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object.~ Thomas Jefferson Where a new invention promises to be useful, it ought to be tried.~ Thomas Jefferson I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature.~ Thomas Jefferson The sword of the law should never fall but on those whose guilt is so apparent as to be pronounced by their friends as well as foes.~ Thomas Jefferson ...truth is great and will prevail if left to herself; that she is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error, and has nothing to fear from the conflict unless by human interposition disarmed of her natural weapons, free argument and debate, errors ceasing to be dangerous when it is permitted freely to contradict them.~ Thomas Jefferson Advertisements contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper.~ Thomas Jefferson Botany I rank with the most valuable sciences.~ Thomas Jefferson History, in general, only informs us what bad government is.~ Thomas Jefferson I agree with you that it is the duty of every good citizen to use all the opportunities, which occur to him, for preserving documents relating to the history of our country.~ Thomas Jefferson Previous 20 quotes Next 20 quotes Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print