Thomas Jefferson Quotes About Common Sense

• Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding and should, therefore, be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense. Their meaning is not to be sought for in metaphysical subtleties which may make anything mean everything or nothing at pleasure.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Mean, Men, Law

  Thomas Jefferson “Selected letters of Thomas Jefferson”, Lulu.com

• I have great confidence in the common sense of mankind in general.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Confidence, Common Sense, Mankind

  Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.172, Cambridge University Press

• Let common sense and common honesty have fair play, and they will soon set things to rights.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Honesty, Rights, Play

  Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.23, Modern Library

• I can never fear that things will go far wrong where common sense has fair play.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Play, Common Sense, Never Fear

  Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1853). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin”, p.73

• The commotions that have taken place in America, as far as they are yet known to me, offer nothing threatening. They are a proof that the people have liberty enough, and I could not wish them less than they have. If the happiness of the mass of the people can be secured at the expense of a little tempest now and then, or even of a little blood, it will be a precious purchase. 'Malo libertatem periculosam quam quietem servitutem.' Let common sense and common honesty have fair play, and they will soon set things to rights.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Honesty, Taken, Blood

  Thomas Jefferson (1861). “Correspondence”, p.77

• Common sense is the foundation of all authorities, of the laws themselves, and of their construction.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Law, Common Sense, Foundation

  Thomas Jefferson (1814). “The Proceedings of the Government of the United States in Maintaining the Public Right to the Beach of the Missisipi, Adjacent to New-Orleans, Against the Intrusion of Edward Livingston”, p.65

• If the obstacles of bigotry and priestcraft can be surmounted, we may hope that common sense will suffice to do everything else.

  Thomas Jefferson

  War, Common Sense, Drug

  Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.247, Algora Publishing

• 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.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Independent, Common Sense, Principles

  Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1859). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence. Reports and opinions while secretary of state”, p.407

• The art of governing consists simply of being honest, exercising common sense, following principle, and doing what is right and just.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Art, Exercise, Common Sense

• No race of kings has ever presented above one man of common sense in twenty generations.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Kings, Men, Race

  Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs, correspondence and private papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. by T.J. Randolph”

• Difficulties indeed sometimes arise; but common sense and honest intentions will generally steer through them.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Common Sense, Honest, Sometimes

  Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1859). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence. Reports and opinions while secretary of state”, p.64

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