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The constitution has erected no such single tribunal, knowing that to whatever hands confided, with the corruption's of time and party, its members would become despots.

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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Diplomat
Farmer
Inventor
Jurist
Lawyer
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Slaveholder
President Jefferson
T. Jefferson
Hands
Despotism
Become
Corruption
Would
Constitution
Time
Members
Confided
Single
Tribunal
Knowing
Tribunals
Party
Erected
Whatever
Despots

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A professorship of Theology should have no place in our institution [the University of Virginia]
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Victory and defeat are each of the same price.
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Certain teachings in the Bible are as diamonds in a dung-heap.
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You see I am an enthusiast on the subject of the arts.
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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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To unequal privileges among members of the same society the spirit of our nation is, with one accord, adverse.
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I am... for freedom of the press, and against all violations of the Constitution to silence by force and not by reason the complaints or criticisms, just or unjust, of our citizens against the conduct of their agents.
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I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.
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If the obstacles of bigotry and priestcraft can be surmounted, we may hope that common sense will suffice to do everything else.
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With respect to our State and federal governments, I do not think their relations correctly understood by foreigners. They generally suppose the former subordinate to the latter. But this is not the case. They are co-ordinate departments of one simple and integral whole.
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I have done for my country and for all mankind, all that I could do, and I now resign my soul, without fear, to my God - my daughter to my country.
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Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.
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But every state, says an inquisitor, has established some religion. No two, say I, have established the same. Is this a proof of the infallibility of establishments?
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Tobacco is a culture productive of infinite wretchedness.
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Neither believe nor reject any thing because any other person, or description of persons have rejected or believed it. Your own reason is the only oracle given you by heaven.
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Everything is useful which contributes to fix the principles and practices of virtue.
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Should look forward to a time, and that not a distant one, when corruption in this, as in the country from which we derive our origin, will have seized the heads of government, and be spread by them through the body of the people when they will purchase the voices of the people, and make them pay the price.
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I deny the power of the general government to making paper money, or anything else a legal tender.
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The sickly, weakly, timid man fears the people, and is a Tory by nature. The healthy, strong and bold cherishes them, and is formed a Whig by nature.
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