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. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to Heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all. ~ Thomas Jefferson 

If the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at stake. ~ Thomas Jefferson 

A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine. ~ Thomas Jefferson 

I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be. ~ Thomas Jefferson 

It is in our lives and not our words that our religion must be read. ~ Thomas Jefferson 

Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government. ~ Thomas Jefferson 

Error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. ~ Thomas Jefferson 

A Decalogue of Canons for observation in practical life: 1. Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. 2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself. 3. Never spend your money before you have it. 4. Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you. 5. Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold. 6. We never repent of having eaten too little. 7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly. 8. How much pain have cost us the evils which never have happened. 9. Take things always by their smooth handle. 10. When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, an hundred. (letter to Thomas Jefferson Smith, 1825) ~ Thomas Jefferson 

I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master. ~ Thomas Jefferson 

I never told my own religion nor scrutinized that of another. I never attempted to make a convert, nor wished to change another’s creed. I am satisfied that yours must be an excellent religion to have produced a life of such exemplary virtue and correctness. For it is in our lives, and not from our words, that our religion must be judged. ~ Thomas Jefferson