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The ground of liberty is to be gained by inches, and we must be contented to secure what we can get from time to time and eternally press forward for what is yet to get. It takes time to persuade men to do even what is for their own good.

Thomas Jefferson

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Thomas Jefferson
Age: 83 †
Born: 1743
Born: April 2
Died: 1826
Died: July 4
3Rd U.S. President
Archaeologist
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Farmer
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Lawyer
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President Jefferson
T. Jefferson
Men
Secure
Eternally
Time
Ground
Persuade
Forward
Libertarianism
Liberty
Gained
Takes
Inches
Must
Libertarian
Even
Presses
Good
Press
Contented

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I am not afraid of the priests. They have tried upon me all their various batteries, of pious whining, hypocritical canting, lying and slandering, without being able to give me one moment of pain.
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The dead should not rule the living
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Though written constitutions may be violated in moments of passion or delusion, yet they furnish a text to which those who are watchful may again rally and recall the people they fix too for the people the principles of their political creed.
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Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error... They are the natural enemies of error, and of error only... If [free enquiry] be restrained now, the present corruptions will be protected, and new ones encouraged.
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We have no right to prejudice another in his civil enjoyments because he is of another church.
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No man complains of his neighbor for ill management of his affairs, for an error in sowing his land, or marrying his daughter, for consuming his substance in taverns ... in all these he has liberty but if he does not frequent the church, or then conform in ceremonies, there is an immediate uproar.
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When we see ourselves in a situation which must be endured and gone through, it is best to make up our minds to it, meet it with firmness, and accommodate everything to it in the best way practicable. This lessens the evil while fretting and fuming only serves to increase your own torments.
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The sun has not caught me in bed in fifty years.
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An equal application of law to every condition of man is fundamental.
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Of all the cankers of human happiness none corrodes with so silent, yet so baneful an influence, as indolence.
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When tempted to do any thing in secret, ask yourself if you would do it in public.
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Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.
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The government created by this compact was not made the exclusive or final judge of the extent of the powers delegated to itself since that would have made its discretion, and not the Constitution, the measure of its powers.
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If the book be false in its facts, disprove them if false in its reasoning, refute it. But, for God's sake, let us freely hear both sides, if we choose.
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The only security of all is in a free press.
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One had rather have no opinion than a false one.
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We do not mean to count or weigh our contributions by any standard other than that of our abilities.
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All... natural rights may be abridged or modified in [their] exercise by law.
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The religion-builders have so distorted and deformed the doctrines of Jesus, so muffled them in mysticism, fancies, and falsehoods.
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No man has done everything he can who has done only his best.
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