Thomas Jefferson

I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind.

Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching.

Truth is certainly a branch of morality and a very important one to society.

Our country is now taking so steady a course as to show by what road it will pass to destruction, to wit: by consolidation of power first, and then corruption, its necessary consequence.

It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquility and occupation which give you happiness.

I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another.

A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.

Money, not morality, is the principle commerce of civilized nations.

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.

When angry count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred.

I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.

Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits.

Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.

A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.

The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.

Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far.

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.