Aphorisms Galore!

Thomas Jefferson

third U.S. president 1801--09; b. 1743; d. 1826

Aphorisms Attributed to This Aphorist

tiny.ag/poggndv0  ·   Fair (2925 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

Be polite to all, but intimate with few.

Thomas Jefferson, in Altruism and Cynicism

tiny.ag/isf8vo05  ·   Fair (1041 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

Delay is preferable to error.

Thomas Jefferson, in Success and Failure

tiny.ag/1jtdasvn  ·   Fair (1273 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day.

Thomas Jefferson, in Wisdom and Ignorance

tiny.ag/bgvxtarp  ·   Fair (1204 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.

Thomas Jefferson, in Success and Failure and Work and Recreation

tiny.ag/64hrko9k  ·   Fair (1211 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.

Thomas Jefferson, in Law and Politics

tiny.ag/asaliq9g  ·   Fair (3066 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

tiny.ag/7u0qrtca  ·   Fair (1385 ratings)  ·  submitted 1999 by Sugar

If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so.

Thomas Jefferson, in Law and Politics and Vice and Virtue

tiny.ag/g1wxfjbw  ·   Fair (868 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.

Thomas Jefferson, in Law and Politics

tiny.ag/t6cxlzxo  ·   Fair (1006 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation, that gives happiness.

Thomas Jefferson, in Wealth and Poverty and Work and Recreation

tiny.ag/ut6ks243  ·   Fair (805 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.

Thomas Jefferson, in Law and Politics

tiny.ag/qycsaode  ·   Fair (1009 ratings)  ·  submitted 1997

When angry, count to ten before you speak; when very angry, a hundred.

Thomas Jefferson, Writings, in Wisdom and Ignorance