The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Volumes 5-6Issued under the auspices of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association of the United States, 1905 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Algiers America answer Assemblée des Notables assured August Barbary Barbary treaties Barclay circumstances Colonel commerce Congress copy Count de Vergennes court dear Sir debt desire disposition Dumas duties Emperor of Morocco enclose Encyclopédie England esteem and respect Europe Excellency's expect favor Fayette France Franklin French friend and servant furnish give hand Honfleur honor hope interest JAMES MADISON Jefferson JOHN ADAMS JOHN JAY King King of Prussia La Fayette Lambe late letter liberty livres London Marquis ment merchants minister Monsieur month Morocco nations necessary negotiation obedient humble servant object obliged occasion opinion packet papers PARIS peace perhaps person ports Portugal present probably proposed Prussia received render respect and esteem sent sentiments sincere esteem Spain Staphorst suppose thought thousand guineas tion tobacco treaty United vessel Virginia whale oil wish write
Popular passages
Page 386 - I think by far the most important bill in our whole code, is that for the diffusion of knowledge among the people. No other sure foundation can be devised for the preservation of freedom and happiness.
Page 177 - Were I to indulge my own theory, I should wish them to practise neither commerce nor navigation, but to stand, with respect to Europe, precisely on the footing of China. We should thus avoid wars, and all our citizens would be husbandmen.
Page 348 - God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is a lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty.
Page 45 - Societies exist under three forms sufficiently distinguishable. 1. Without government, as among our Indians. 2. Under governments wherein the will of every one has a just influence, as is the case in England in a slight degree, and in our states in a great one. 3. Under governments of force: as is the case in all other monarchies and in most of the other republics. To have an idea of the curse of existence under these last, they must be seen. It is a government of wolves over sheep. It is a problem,...
Page 349 - What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Page 224 - State a moral case to a ploughman 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.
Page 94 - I consider the class of artificers as the panders of vice, and the instruments by which the liberties of a country are generally overturned.
Page 362 - Let me add, that a bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular; and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.
Page 364 - Smaller objections are, the appeals on matters of fact as well as law; and the binding all persons, legislative, executive and judiciary by oath, to maintain that constitution. I do not pretend to decide, what would be the best method of procuring the establishment of the manifold good things in this constitution, and of getting rid of the bad. Whether by adopting it, in hopes of future amendment; or, after it...
Page 133 - You see I am an enthusiast on the subject of the arts, but it is an enthusiasm of which I am not ashamed, as its object is to improve the taste of my countrymen, to increase their reputation, to reconcile to them the respect of the world and procure them its praise.