Quotes from Thomas Jefferson

If God is just, I tremble for my country.

One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them.

One travels more usefully when alone, because he reflects more.

Difference of opinion is advantageous in religion. The several sects perform the office of a Censor - over each other.

We must therefore… hold them [the British] as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.

Whensoever hostile aggressions… require a resort to war, we must meet our duty and convince the world that we are just friends and brave enemies.

I never told my own religion nor scrutinized that of another. I never attempted to make a convert, nor wished to change another's creed. I am satisfied that yours must be an excellent religion to have produced a life of such exemplary virtue and correctness. For it is in our lives, and not from our words, that our religion must be judged.

It behooves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others: or their case may, by change of circumstances, become his own.

That one hundred and fifty lawyers should do business together ought not to be expected.

Friendship is but another name for an alliance with the follies and the misfortunes of others. Our own share of miseries is sufficient: why enter then as volunteers into those of another?

The sun has not caught me in bed in fifty years.