Thomas Jefferson Quotes About Truth

• Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Inspirational, Positive, Wisdom

  Thomas Jefferson (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson”, p.112

• 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.

• It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Religious, Truth, Freedom

  Notes on the State of Virginia, query 17 (1781 - 1785)

• When all government ...in little as in great things... shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power; it will render powerless the checks provided of one government on another, and will become as venal and oppressive as the government from which we separated.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Freedom, Truth, Knowledge

  Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, cont”, p.216

• We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Life, Change, Happiness

  Declaration of Independence (1776).

• If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it expects what never was and never will be ... The People cannot be safe without information. When the press is free, and every man is able to read, all is safe.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Truth, Men, People

  Letter to Colonel Charles Yancey, January 6, 1816.

• The advertisement is the most truthful part of a newspaper.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Motivational, Truth, Humorous

• Do not bite at the bait of pleasure, till you know there is no hook beneath it.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Motivational, Truth, Freedom

  Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1859). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence”, p.37

• Ignorance is preferable to error, and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Truth, Mistake, Believe

  Thomas Jefferson (1977). “The Portable Thomas Jefferson”, p.71, Penguin

• Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have remover their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Inspirational, Bible, God

  Notes on the State of Virginia, query 18 (1781 - 1785)

• When a man assumes a public trust he should consider himself a public property.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Trust, Truth, Men

  Remark to Baron von Humboldt, 1807, in Rayner 'Life of Jefferson' (1834) p. 356

• For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Truth, May, Not Afraid

  Letter to William Roscoe, 27 Dec. 1820

• If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?

  Thomas Jefferson

  Truth, Freedom, Ignorance

• Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error... They are the natural enemies of error, and of error only... If [free enquiry] be restrained now, the present corruptions will be protected, and new ones encouraged.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Truth, Errors, Political

• This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, not tolerate error as long as reason is left free to combat it.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Truth, War, Errors

  Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1859). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence. Reports and opinions while secretary of state”, p.196

• Truth between candid minds can never do harm.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Truth, Political, Mind

  Thomas Jefferson, H. A. Washington (2011). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private”, p.271, Cambridge University Press

• I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge, never fearing to follow truth and reason to whatever results they led, and bearding every authority which stood in their way.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Truth, Knowledge, Politics

  Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Autobiography, Anas, Writings 1760-1770”, p.454, Cosimo, Inc.

• Never suppose that in any possible situation or under any circumstances that it is best for you to do a dishonorable thing however slightly so it may appear to you... Encourage all your virtuous dispositions, and exercise them whenever an opportunity arises, being assured that they will gain strength by exercise ... and that exercise will make them habitual.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Truth, Lying, Exercise

  Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.60, Rowman & Littlefield

• Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear their leading you out of [any difficult situation] in the easiest manner possible.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Truth, Lying, Difficult Situations

  Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs, Correspondence, and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Late President of the United States”, p.286

• The opinions of men are not the object of civil government, nor under its jurisdiction.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Truth, Men, Political

  Thomas Jefferson, Jean M. Yarbrough (1963). “The Essential Jefferson”, p.28, Hackett Publishing

• With those who wish to think amiss of me, I have learnt to be perfectly indifferent: but where I know a mind to be ingenuous, andto need only truth to set it to rights, I cannot be as passive.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Truth, Thinking, Rights

  Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.423, Cambridge University Press

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