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An hereditary aristocracy... will change the form of our governments from the best to the worst in the world.

Thomas Jefferson

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Thomas Jefferson
Age: 83 †
Born: 1743
Born: April 2
Died: 1826
Died: July 4
3Rd U.S. President
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Too old to plant trees for my own gratification, I shall do it for my posterity.
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In our early struggles for liberty, religious freedom could not fail to become a primary object.
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The variety of opinions leads to questions. Questions lead to truth.
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I am not myself apt to be alarmed at innovations recommended by reason. That dread belongs to those whose interests or prejudices shrink from the advance of truth and science.
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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.
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The unsuccessful strugglers against tyranny have been the chief martyrs of treason laws in all countries.
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One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them.
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It is part of the American character to consider nothing as desperate.
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I do not believe war the most certain means of enforcing principles. Those peaceable coercions which are in the power of every nation, if undertaken in concert and in time of peace, are more likely to produce the desired effect.
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Laws abridging the natural right of the citizen should be restrained by rigorous constructions within their narrowest limits.
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A truth now and then projecting into the ocean of newspaper lies serves like headlands to correct our course. Indeed, my scepticism as to everything I see in a newspaper makes me indifferent whether I ever see one.
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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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Motherhood is the keystone of the arch of matrimonial happiness.
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Bind them down by the chains of the Constitution where they can do no mischief.
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The federal government is our servant, not our master.
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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.
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In a government bottomed on the will of all, the... liberty of every individual citizen becomes interesting to all.
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No man will ever carry out of the Presidency the reputation which carried him into it.
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The purpose of establishing different houses of legislation is to introduce the influence of different interests or different principles.
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My principle is to do whatever is right, and leave consequences to him who has the disposal of them.
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