Thomas Jefferson Principles Quotations

Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government.

We are endeavoring, too, to reduce the government to the practice of a rigorous economy, to avoid burdening the people, and arming the magistrate with patronage of money, which might be used to corrupt and undermine the principles of our government

Sound principles will not justify our taxing the industry of our fellow citizens to accumulate treasure for wars to happen we know not when, and which might not perhaps happen but from the temptations offered by that treasure

In matters of principals, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current.

The best principles of our republic secure to all its citizens a perfect equality of rights.

The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded, are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them, they cannot love us.

Every honest man will suppose honest acts to flow from honest principles, and the rogues may rail without intermission.

It is my principle that the will of the majority should always prevail.

Chemistry is yet, indeed, a mere embryon. Its principles are contested; experiments seem contradictory; their subjects are so minute as to escape our senses; and their result too fallacious to satisfy the mind. It is probably an age too soon to propose the establishment of a system.

Our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to God alone.

Time indeed changes manners and notions, and so far we must expect institutions to bend to them. But time produces also corruption of principles, and against this it is the duty of good citizens to be ever on the watch, and if the gangrene is to prevail at last, let the day be kept off as long as possible.

Now I will avow, that I then believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God; and that those principles of liberty are as unalterable as human nature and our terrestrial, mundane system.

We ought not to schismatize on either men or measures. Principles alone can justify that.

Principle will, in... most... cases open the way for us to correct conclusion.

Lay down true principles and adhere to them inflexibly. Do not be frightened into their surrender by the alarms of the timid, or the croakings of wealth against the ascendency of the people.

Our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to our god alone. I enquire after no man's and trouble none with mine; nor is it given to us in this life to know whether yours or mine, our friend's or our foe's, are exactly the right.

Is it less dishonest to do what is wrong because it is not expressly prohibited by written law? Let us hope our moral principles are not yet in that stage of degeneracy.

God grant that men of principle shall be our principal men.

The principle of the Constitution is that of a separation of legislative, Executive and Judiciary functions, except in cases specified. If this principle be not expressed in direct terms, it is clearly the spirit of the Constitution, and it ought to be so commented and acted on by every friend of free government.

Everything is useful which contributes to fix the principles and practices of virtue.

The best commentary on the principles of government which has ever been written.

We are now trusting to those who are against us in position and principle, to fashion to their own form the minds and affections of our youth... This canker is eating on the vitals of our existence, and if not arrested at once, will be beyond remedy.

The Central Bank is an institution of the most deadly hostility existing against the principles and form of our Constitution.

My principle is to do whatever is right, and leave consequences to him who has the disposal of them.

Above all I hope that the education of the common people will be attended to so they won't forget the basic principles of freedom.

Money, not morality, constitutes the principle of commercial nations.

not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of . . . but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent, and to justify ourselves in the independent stand we are compelled to take.

But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.