Quote #155

But would the honest patriot, in the full tide of successful experiment, abandon a government which has so far kept us free and firm, on the theocratic and visionary fear that this government, the world's best hope, may by possibility want energy to preserve itself?

More from Thomas Jefferson

  1. All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightf…
  2. Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? Or …
  3. We are all Republicans - we are all Federalists. If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union or to change its republican…
  4. Still one thing more, fellow citizens - a wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave…
  5. [W]hen speaking of the new testament that you should read all the histories of Christ, as well of those whom a council of ecclesiastics hav…
  6. Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political; peace, commerce, and honest friendship with al…
  7. In fine, I repeat, you must lay aside all prejudice on both sides, and neither believe nor reject anything, because any other persons, or d…
  8. The earth belongs to the living, not to the dead.

All Thomas Jefferson quotes