Tag Archives: Thomas Jefferson

First Principles: No Experiment Can Be More Interesting Than That We Are Now Trying, And Which We Trust Will End In Establishing the Fact, That Man May Be Governed By Reason and Truth

“No experiment can be more interesting than that we are now trying, and which we trust will end in establishing the fact, that man may be governed by reason and truth. Our first object should therefore be, to leave open … Continue reading

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First Principles: It Is Error Alone Which Needs the Support of Government. Truth Can Stand By Itself

“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself. Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors?” – Thomas Jefferson (1781)

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First Principles: Were We Directed From Washington When To Sow and When To Reap, We Should Soon Want Bread

“Were we directed from Washington when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread.” – Thomas Jefferson (1821)

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First Principles: It Is Error Alone Which Needs the Support of Government. Truth Can Stand By Itself.

“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself. Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors?” – Thomas Jefferson (1781)

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First Principles: I Think All the World Would Gain By Setting Commerce At Perfect Liberty

“I think all the world would gain by setting commerce at perfect liberty.” – Thomas Jefferson (1785)

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First Principles: Were It Left To Me To Decide If We Should Have A Government Without Newspapers, Or Newspapers Without A Government, I Should Not Hesitate A Moment To Prefer the Latter

“Were it left to me to decide if we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” – Thomas Jefferson

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First Principles: Falsehood of the Tongue Leads To That of the Heart, and In Time Depraves All Its Good Disposition

“Falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good disposition.” – Thomas Jefferson (1785)

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First Principles: Newspapers…Serve As Chimneys To Carry Off Noxious Vapors and Smoke

“Newspapers … serve as chimnies to carry off noxious vapors and smoke.” – Thomas Jefferson (1802)

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First Principles: The Greatest Good We Can Do Our Country Is To Heal Its Party Divisions and Make Them One People

“The greatest good we can do our country is to heal its party divisions and make them one people.” – Thomas Jefferson (1801)

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First Principles: One Single Object Will Merit the Endless Gratitude of the Society: That of Restraining the Judges From Usurping Legislation

“One single object … [will merit] the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation.” – Thomas Jefferson, letter to Edward Livingston, 1825

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