Thomas Jefferson Quotes About War

• 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

• 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 prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Freedom, War, Gun

  Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson (1988). “Paine and Jefferson on Liberty”, p.89, Bloomsbury Publishing USA

• The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Money, War, Famous Inspirational

  Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.18, Rowman & Littlefield

• The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Freedom, War, Patriotic

  Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1786-1787”, p.263, Cosimo, Inc.

• A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.

  Thomas Jefferson

  War, Men, Spirit

  Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia II, Correspondence 1782-1786”, p.400, Cosimo, Inc.

• 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 tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.

  Thomas Jefferson

  God, Country, War

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

• If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Education, Freedom, War

  Letter to Colonel Charles Yancey, 6 January 1816

• 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”

• Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto.

  Thomas Jefferson

  War, Liberty, Alliances

  Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies from the papers of T. Jefferson”, p.425

• Force is the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism.

  Thomas Jefferson

  War, Military, Parent

  Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson (1988). “Paine and Jefferson on Liberty”, p.143, Bloomsbury Publishing USA

• It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Wisdom, War, Government Debt

  Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence and Papers, 1816-1826”, p.184, Cosimo, Inc.

• 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.

• We are afraid of the known and afraid of the unknown. That is our daily life and in that there is no hope, and therefore every form of philosophy, every form of theological concept, is merely an escape from the actual reality of what is. All outward forms of change brought about by wars, revolutions, reformations, laws and ideologies have failed completely to change the basic nature of man and therefore of society.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Death, Atheist, Philosophy

  "Freedom From The Known" by Jiddu Krishnamurti, 1969.

• 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

• Honor, justice, and humanity, forbid us tamely to surrender that freedom which we received from our gallant ancestors, and which our innocent posterity have a right to receive from us.

  Thomas Jefferson

  War, Justice, Humanity

  Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.21, Rowman & Littlefield

• 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

• 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

• It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid war; but if it shall actually take place, no matter by whom brought on, we must defend ourselves. If our house be on fire, without inquiring whether it was fired from within or without, we must try to extinguish it.

  Thomas Jefferson

  War, Patriotic, Fire

  Thomas Jefferson, Brett F. Woods (2009). “Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence”, p.140, Algora Publishing

• 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

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