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

"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms..disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed one." - Thomas Jefferson quoting Cesare Beccaria, Criminologist in 1764. That was 230 years ago. -Thomas Jefferson

"The constitutions of most of our states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property and freedom of the press." Thomas Jefferson

"The beauty of the second amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it." -Thomas Jefferson

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.-Thomas Jefferson

I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive.-Thomas Jefferson

Power is not alluring to pure minds.-Thomas Jefferson

Most bad government has grown out of too much government.-Thomas Jefferson

What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?-Thomas Jefferson

Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want bread.-Thomas Jefferson

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.-Thomas Jefferson

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms [of government] those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.-Thomas Jefferson

Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.-Thomas Jefferson

I think myself that we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious.-Thomas Jefferson

A free people [claim] their rights as derived from the laws of nature, and not as the gift of their chief magistrate.-Thomas Jefferson

The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first.-Thomas Jefferson

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it. Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases. Was the government to prescribe to us our medicine and diet, our bodies would be in such keeping as our souls are now.

"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." --Thomas Jefferson

GEORGE WASHINGTON

A slender acquaintance with the world must convince every man that actions, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment of friends. George Washington

Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness. George Washington

Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company. George Washington

Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation. It is better be alone than in bad company. George Washington

Bad seed is a robbery of the worst kind: for your pocket-book not only suffers by it, but your preparations are lost and a season passes away unimproved. George Washington

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. George Washington

Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all. George Washington

Experience teaches us that it is much easier to prevent an enemy from posting themselves than it is to dislodge them after they have got possession. George Washington

Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder. George Washington

Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth. George Washington

Friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation. George Washington

Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. George Washington

Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. George Washington

Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected. George Washington

I can only say that there is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do to see a plan adopted for the abolition of slavery. George Washington

I have no other view than to promote the public good, and am unambitious of honors not founded in the approbation of my Country. George Washington

I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an Honest Man. George Washington

I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man. George Washington

I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent. George Washington

If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter. George Washington

If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known, that we are at all times ready for War. George Washington

It is better to be alone than in bad company. George Washington

It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one. George Washington

It is far better to be alone, than to be in bad company. George Washington

It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible. George Washington

It may be laid down as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every Citizen who enjoys the protection of a Free Government, owes not only a proportion of his property, but even of his personal services to the defense of it. George Washington

It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it. George Washington

Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience. George Washington

Laws made by common consent must not be trampled on by individuals. George Washington

Lenience will operate with greater force, in some instances than rigor. It is therefore my first wish to have all of my conduct distinguished by it. George Washington

Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God. George Washington

Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. George Washington

Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive. George Washington

Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse. George Washington

Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth. George Washington

Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government. George Washington

My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth. George Washington

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her. George Washington

My observation is that whenever one person is found adequate to the discharge of a duty... it is worse executed by two persons, and scarcely done at all if three or more are employed therein. George Washington

Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army the superiority over another. George Washington

Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. George Washington

Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty. George Washington

Some day, following the example of the United States of America, there will be a United States of Europe. George Washington

The administration of justice is the firmest pillar of government. George Washington

The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government. George Washington

The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon. George Washington

The constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure. George Washington

The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low that every person of sense and character detests and despises it. George Washington

The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments. George Washington

The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves. George Washington

The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good. George Washington

There can be no greater error than to expect, or calculate, upon real favors from nation to nation. It is an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard. George Washington

To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace. George Washington

To be prepared for War is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace. George Washington

True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity, before it is entitled to the appellation. George Washington

Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light. George Washington

War - An act of violence whose object is to constrain the enemy, to accomplish our will. George Washington

We ought not to look back, unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors and for the purpose of profiting by dear bought experience. George Washington

We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience. George Washington

When we assumed the Soldier, we did not lay aside the Citizen. George Washington

Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble. George Washington

QUOTES

Click on one of the links below for an assortment of quotes:

George Washington

Thomas Jefferson