Thomas Jefferson Quotes About Peace

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  The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Strength, Wisdom, Veterans Day

  Letter to William Stephens Smith, 13 Nov. 1787
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  I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and Constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Change, Peace, Boys

  Thomas Jefferson (1997). “Thomas Jefferson, His Words and Vision”, p.18, Peter Pauper Press, Inc.

• Born in the same land, we ought to live as brothers, doing to each other all the good we can, and not listening to wicked men, who may endeavor to make us enemies. By living in peace, we can help and prosper one another; by waging war, we can kill and destroy many on both sides; but those who survive will not be the happier for that.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Peace, Brother, War

  Thomas Jefferson, Richard Holland Johnston, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association of the United States “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson”

• Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Peace, Honesty, War

  First Inaugural Address, 4 Mar. 1801

• I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Education, Peace, Exercise

  Letter to William Charles Jarvis, 28 Sept. 1820

• I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Wisdom, Peace, War

  Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.254, Rowman & Littlefield

• I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Love, Inspirational, Graduation

  Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.53, Cambridge University Press

• One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Love, Strength, Hope

  Thomas Jefferson (1830). “Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, from the Papers of Thomas Jefferson”, p.331

• Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Inspirational, Friendship, Peace

  Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies from the papers of T. Jefferson”

• Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Peace, War, House

  Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution”, p.257, Algora Publishing

• Governments constantly choose between telling lies and fighting wars, with the end result always being the same. One will always lead to the other.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Peace, War, Lying

• This I hope will be the age of experiments in government, and that their basis will be founded in principles of honesty, not of mere force.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Peace, Honesty, War

  Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1793-1798”, p.219, Cosimo, Inc.

• If there is one principle more deeply rooted in the mind of every American, it is that we should have nothing to do with conquest.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Peace, War, Should Have

  Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies from the papers of T. Jefferson”, p.117

• I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Peace, War, Views

  Thomas Jefferson (1977). “The Portable Thomas Jefferson”, p.372, Penguin

• I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Happiness, Peace, Laughter

  Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.296, Cambridge University Press

• It is reasonable that everyone who asks justice should do justice

  Thomas Jefferson

  Peace, Integrity, War

  Thomas Jefferson, Andrew M. Allison (1983). “The Real Thomas Jefferson”, Natl Center for Constitutional

• The spirit of this country is totally adverse to a large military force.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Country, Peace, Military

  Thomas Jefferson (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin”, p.47

• We did not raise armies for glory or for conquest.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Peace, War, Army

  Thomas Jefferson (1976). “Thomas Jefferson, revolutionary philosopher: a selection of writings”, Barron's Educational Series

• A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public debt...If the game runs sometime against us at home, we must have patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at stake.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Running, Peace, War

  Letter to John Taylor, June 1798.

• War is an instrument entirely inefficient toward redressing wrong; and multiplies, instead of indemnifying losses.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Peace, War, Loss

  Letter to John Sinclair, 1798.

• War...is as much a punishment to the punisher as to the sufferer.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Peace, War, Punishment

  Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.135, Algora Publishing

• That peace, safety, and concord may be the portion of our native land, and be long enjoyed by our fellow-citizens, is the most ardent wish of my heart, and if I can be instrumental in procuring or preserving them, I shall think I have not lived in vain.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Peace, Heart, Thinking

  Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1859). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence”, p.378

• Believing that the happiness of mankind is best promoted by the useful pursuits of peace, that on these alone a stable prosperity can be founded, that the evils of war are great in their endurance, and have a long reckoning for ages to come, I have used my best endeavors to keep our country uncommitted in the troubles which afflict Europe, and which assail us on every side.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Country, Peace, War

  Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.232, Algora Publishing

• I know of no safe depository of the ultimate power of the society but the people themselves.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Peace, War, People

  Letter to William Charles Jarvis, 28 Sept. 1820

• They are nations of eternal war. All their energies are expended in the destruction of the labor, property, and lives of their people.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Peace, War, People

  Thomas Jefferson (1861). “Correspondence. Reports and opinions while secretarry of state”, p.288

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