“The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed.”

— Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Marquis de Lafayette (4 November 1823)

About Thomas Jefferson

1743 – 1826

American statesman, principal author of the Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States.

“The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.”

“I steer my bark with Hope in the head, leaving Fear astern.”

“The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest.”

“Why, what is weeping and sighing? A judgement. What is misfortune? A judgement.”

“Remember that all is opinion.”

“The universe is flux, life is opinion.”

“He had only one vanity; he thought he could give advice better than any other person.”

“Perfection of means and confusion of goals seem—in my opinion—to characterize our age.”

“The value of a college education is not the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think.”