Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)

“The Declaration of Independence, the Ordinance of Freedom for the Northwest, and the Statute for Religious Freedom—these three acts, each of them sufficient to immortalize a man—were the work of one and the same hand.” — Daniel Webster.

Selected Writings

Ordinance of 1784 – For the Government of New Territories

Resolved, That the territory ceded by individual States to the United States, whenever the same shall have been purchased of the Indian inhabitants and offered for sale by the United States, shall be formed into additional States … provided, That both the temporary and permanent governments be established on these principles as their basis:

1. That they shall forever remain a part of the United States of America.
2. That after the year 1800 there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in any of the said States, otherwise than in punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted to have been personally guilty.

To J. Banister
Paris, 1785

It appears to me, then, that an American, coming to Europe for education, loses in his knowledge, in his morals, in his health, in his habits, and in his happiness.

To a Friend
Paris, January 25, 1786

Our present federal limits are not too large for good government, nor will the increase of votes in the Congress produce any ill effect. On the contrary, it will drown the little divisions at present existing there.
Our Confederacy must be viewed as the nest from which all America, North and South, is to be peopled.

To James Monroe
August 11, 1786

A naval force can never endanger our liberties, nor occasion bloodshed; a land force would do both.

To Edward Carrington
Paris, January 16, 1787

The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable of reading them.

To George Wythe
Paris, August 13, 1787

If all the sovereigns of Europe were to set themselves to work to emancipate the minds of their subjects from ignorance and prejudice … a thousand years would not place them on that high ground on which our common people are now setting out.
Preach, my dear sir, a crusade against ignorance; establish and improve the law for educating the common people. No other sure foundation can be devised for the preservation of freedom and happiness.

To James Madison
Paris, September 6, 1789

No society can make a perpetual constitution, or even perpetual law. The earth belongs always to the living generation. They may manage it then, and what proceeds from it, as they please, during their usufruct.

To the Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia
March 11, 1790

It is indeed an animating thought that, while we are securing the rights of ourselves and our posterity, we are pointing out the way to struggling nations who wish, like us, to emerge from their tyrannies also. Heaven help their struggle, and lead them triumphantly through them.

To a Friend
December 23, 1791

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it.

Report on Convention with Spain
March 22, 1792

Most codes extend their definitions of treason to acts not really against one's country. … The unsuccessful struggles against tyranny have been the chief martyrs of treason laws in all countries. We should not wish, then, to give up to the executioner the patriot who fails and flees to us.

To Elbridge Gerry
January 26, 1799

I am for a government rigorously frugal and simple, applying all the possible savings of the public revenue to the discharge of the national debt … and not for a multiplication of officers and salaries merely to make partisans.
I am for free commerce with all nations, political connection with none, and little or no diplomatic establishment.

To President Monroe
October 24, 1823

Our first and fundamental maxim should be never to entangle ourselves in the broils of Europe.
Our second, never to suffer Europe to intermeddle with cis-Atlantic affairs.
America, North and South, has a set of interests distinct from those of Europe; she should therefore have a system of her own, separate and apart from that of Europe.

To James Heaton – Concerning the Abolition of Slavery
May 26, 1826

The revolution in public opinion which this case requires is not to be expected in a day, or perhaps in an age; but time, which outlives all things, will outlive this evil also. Although I shall not live to see it consummated, it will not die with me; but, living or dying, it will ever be in my most fervent prayers.

To Mr. Weightman
Monticello, June 24, 1826

All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God.