But friendship is precious, not only in the shade but in the sunshine of life; & thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things, the greater part of life is sunshine. I will recur for proof to the days...
A Decalogue of Canons for Observation in Practical Life:1. Never put off to tomorrow what you can do to-day.2. Never trouble another with what you can do yourself.3. Never spend your money before you...
When a man assumes a public trust he should consider himself as public property.
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.
It is neither wealth nor splendor but tranquility and occupation which give happiness.
The habit of using ardent spirits by men in office has occasioned more injury to the public and more trouble to me than all other causes. Were I to commence my administration again the first questi...
When we see ourselves in a situation which must be endured and gone through it is best to meet it with firmness and accommodate everything to it in the best way practicable. This lessens the evil w...
We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.
I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.
An association of men who will not quarrel with one another is a thing which has never yet existed, from the greatest confederacy of nations down to a town meeting or a vestry.
As our enemies have found we can reason like men, so now let us show them we can fight like men also.
Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of re...
I think one travels more usefully when they travel alone, because they reflect more.( June 19, 1787)
I am mortified to be told that in the United States of America the sale of a book can become a subject of inquiry and of criminal inquiry too.
I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else where I was capable of thinking for myself. Suc...
...never [enter] into dispute or argument with another. I never saw an instance of one of two disputants convincing the other by argument. I have seen many, on their getting warm, becoming rude, & sho...
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.
I predict future happiness for Americans, if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.
Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.