When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe , we shall become as corrupt as Europe .. Thomas Jefferson
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson
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
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. Thomas Jefferson
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. Thomas Jefferson
No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. Thomas Jefferson
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. Thomas Jefferson
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. Thomas Jefferson
To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical. Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson said in 1802: "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."
John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the white House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement:"This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I'm currently reading "The Real Thomas Jefferson, The True Story of America's Philosopher of Freedom". Jefferson was a patriot and a statesman. He preferred his private life of family, farming, reading, inventing, etc. over public life and only stepped into the national spotlight when he was asked to come to the service of his country and her people. He was a staunch republican (with a lower case "r") who faced relentless opposition from the Federalists.
Jefferson was extremely well read and well educated. He was an inventor and scientist. In 1797, Jefferson was elected President of the American Philosophical Society, founded by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia in 1743.
I recommend "The Real" series (Washington, Jefferson, Franklin) for any who want to learn more about our Founding Fathers.
Jefferson was quite a man. Jefferson's quotes, like the bible, are often used by Conservatives, but their quotes are very selective.
Jefferson had much to say about the Christian religion that is also interesting, but seldom quoted.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Jefferson was quite a man. Jefferson's quotes, like the bible, are often used by Conservatives, but their quotes are very selective.
Actually, liberals select quotes in order to paint him as something he is not. The liberal tries to destroy a person’s whole body of work over one letter or one comment, and then call them hypocrites.
If a person goes to church every Sunday, reads the bible everyday, gives 10% of his pay to charity, and openly praises the lord, and then is overheard saying G-Damn out of anger, the liberals will call him a hypocrite and attack his reputation as a god fearing person, destroying it based on the one comment. They are good at distorting things by making the exception the norm.
So... Jefferson quotes that support Conservatives are valid... Jefferson quotes that don't are discounted.
Jefferson is a Genius until he's a Liberal socialist.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
So... Jefferson quotes that support Conservatives are valid... Jefferson quotes that don't are discounted.
Jefferson is a Genius until he's a Liberal socialist.
Go ahead and start posting TJ's liberal, big government, anti-Christian quotes. Since he has soooooo many. While you're at it, don't only post his quotes, post some of this anti-Christian polities while he was president.
You just throw sh!t at the wall, to see what will stick.
I don't have to post anything of Jefferson. His work and his opinions are all over the net. Anyone who is interested in ALL his views can easily find them. Reading Jefferson will teach you that he wouldn't fit into much of today's Conservative or Liberal politics.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
But he gets mocked here for his "tree of liberty" quote by Box.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Jefferson was quite a man. Jefferson's quotes, like the bible, are often used by Conservatives, but their quotes are very selective.
Jefferson had much to say about the Christian religion that is also interesting, but seldom quoted.
He feared religion being used for power over others and rightfully so but he knew the importance of being able to practice our own beliefs. I don't see how that is against conservatism and if anything just makes our case even that much stronger. Our founders beliefs were very libertarian in thinking, libertarianism and conservatism go hand and hand.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
LMAO!!! That's so funny! Your reading 1700's Jefferson into 2011 politics... and assume you'd know Jefferson's opinion, and of course, Jefferson would agree with you!
OF course!
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
He feared religion being used for power over others and rightfully so but he knew the importance of being able to practice our own beliefs. I don't see how that is against conservatism and if anything just makes our case even that much stronger. Our founders beliefs were very libertarian in thinking, libertarianism and conservatism go hand and hand.
Today's Conservatives will tell you that America is a "Christian Nation" and quote the founding fathers to prove their point. Read Jefferson's view of "Christians':
~Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity. -Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782.
~But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg. -Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782.
~Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear. -Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787
Christian Nation??? Not in Jefferson's view: ~Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting "Jesus Christ," so that it would read "A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;" the insertion was rejected by the great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination. -Thomas Jefferson, Autobiography, in reference to the Virginia Act for Religious Freedom
~I concur with you strictly in your opinion of the comparative merits of atheism and demonism, and really see nothing but the latter in the being worshipped by many who think themselves Christians.
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Richard Price, Jan. 8, 1789 (Richard Price had written to TJ on Oct. 26. about the harm done by religion and wrote "Would not Society be better without Such religions? Is Atheism less pernicious than Demonism?")
~Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between church and State. -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Danbury Baptist Association, CT., Jan. 1, 1802
The whole history of these books [the Gospels] is so defective and doubtful that it seems vain to attempt minute enquiry into it: and such tricks have been played with their text, and with the texts of other books relating to them, that we have a right, from that cause, to entertain much doubt what parts of them are genuine. In the New Testament there is internal evidence that parts of it have proceeded from an extraordinary man; and that other parts are of the fabric of very inferior minds. It is as easy to separate those parts, as to pick out diamonds from dunghills. -Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Adams, January 24, 1814
~Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law. -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814
~You say you are a Calvinist. I am not. I am of a sect by myself, as far as I know. -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Ezra Stiles Ely, June 25, 1819
And on and on and on... Jefferson was a prolific writer, and especially about how the USA was NOT a Christian Nation... but ask any Conservative, and they will tell you all about the "FOUNDING FATHERS" CREATED a Christian Nation.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
LMAO!!! That's so funny! Your reading 1700's Jefferson into 2011 politics... and assume you'd know Jefferson's opinion, and of course, Jefferson would agree with you!
OF course!
It is apparent boxy, that american history has no place in your present world. No wonder this country is in the shape it is in today. I guess you are one of those 'selective american history' students, huh?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler