Thomas Jefferson Quotes About Ethics

• In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Inspirational, Motivational, Success

  Thomas Jefferson (2013). “The Jefferson Bible [annotated]: Original Old English Version and Modern Updates to The Jefferson Bible”, p.139, BookBaby

• There is not a truth existing which I fear... or would wish unknown to the whole world.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Truth, Honesty, Fear

  Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence and Papers, 1816-1826”, p.474, Cosimo, Inc.

• Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Trust, Freedom, Educational

  Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.106, Rowman & Littlefield

• The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Happiness, Government, Political

  Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.8, Modern Library

• Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Animal, Rights, Vegetarian Diet

• We confide in our strength, without boasting of it, we respect that of others, without fearing it.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Strength, Respect, Patriotic

  Thomas Jefferson (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson”, p.17

• I am sure that in estimating every man's value either in private or public life, a pure integrity is the quality we take first into calculation, and that learning and talents are only the second.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Integrity, Men, Quality

  Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.132, Rowman & Littlefield

• I consider ethics, as well as religion, as supplements to law in the government of man.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Men, Law, Ethics

  Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1859). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence. Reports and opinions while secretary of state”, p.339

• I never did, or countenanced, in public life, a single act inconsistent with the strictest good faith; having never believed there was one code of morality for a public, and another for a private man.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Integrity, Men, Morality

  Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.239, Algora Publishing

• Money, not morality, is the principle commerce of civilized nations.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Pregnancy, Society, Church

• Honesty is the first chapter in the Book of wisdom. Let it be our endeavor to merit the character of a just nation.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Honesty, Book, Character

• A lively and lasting sense of filial duty is more effectually impressed on the mind of a son or daughter by reading King Lear, than by all the dry volumes of ethics, and divinity that ever were written.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Daughter, Kings, Honesty

  Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.234, Cambridge University Press

• Now I will avow, that I then believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God; and that those principles of liberty are as unalterable as human nature and our terrestrial, mundane system.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Believe, Liberty, Principles

  Thomas Jefferson (1861). “Correspondence”, p.152

• State a moral case to a plowman and a professor. The former will decide it as well, and often better than the latter, because he has not been led astray by artificial rules.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Intelligence, Ethics, Morality

  Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1853). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin”, p.238

• what are the objects of an useful American education? classical knowlege, modern languages & chiefly French, Spanish, & Italian; Mathematics; Natural philosophy; Natural History; Civil History; Ethics.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Philosophy, Educational, Italian

• I have but one system of ethics for men and for nations - to be grateful, to be faithful to all engagements under all circumstances, to be open and generous, promoting in the long run even the interests of both

  Thomas Jefferson

  Running, Gratitude, Grateful

  Thomas Jefferson (1861). “Correspondence”, p.135

• Man was destined for society. His morality therefore was to be formed to this object. He was endowed with a sense of right and wrong merely relative to this. This sense is as much a part of his nature as the sense of hearing, seeing, feeling; it is the true foundation of morality... The moral sense, or conscience, is as much a part of man as his leg or arm. It is given to all human beings in a stronger or weaker degree, as force of members is given them in a greater or less degree. It may be strengthened by exercise, as may any particular limb of the body.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Exercise, Men, Psychology

  Thomas Jefferson's letter to Peter Carr, founders.archives.gov. August 10, 1787.

• The only thing a man can take beyond this lifetime is his ethics.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Men, Ethics, Lifetime

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