Thomas Jefferson

I have seen enough of one war never to wish to see another.

Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations - entangling alliances with none.

Jefferson's "Commonplace Book," 1774-1776 Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. . . . Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve, rather, to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.

To George Washington, 1796: One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them.

To John Cartwright, 1824: We established however some, although not all its [self-government] important principles. The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves, in all cases to which they think themselves competent, (as in electing their functionaries executive and legislative, and deciding by a jury of themselves, in all judiciary cases in which any fact is involved,) or they may act by representatives, freely and equally chosen; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; . . .

Perfect happiness, I believe, was never intended by the Deity to be the lot of one of his creatures in this world; but that he has very much put in our power the nearness of our approaches to it is what I have steadfastly believed.

The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of all the exercises walking is the best.

The best hemp and the best tobacco grow on the same kind of soil. The former article is of the first necessity to the wealth and protection of the country. The latter, never useful.

History, in general, only informs us of what bad government is.

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.