Thomas Jefferson Quotes on Society & Civilization (10 Quotes)

The majority, oppressing an individual, is guilty of a crime, abuses its strength, and by acting on the law of the strongest breaks up the foundations of society.

One single object...will merit the endless gratitude of the society that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation.

I know of no safe repository for the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to increase their discretion by education.

Reading, reflection and time have convinced me that the interests of society require the observation of those moral precepts only in which all religions agree (for all forbid us to steal, murder, plunder, or bear false witness), and that we should n

Truth is certainly a branch of morality and a very important one to society.

I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion.

A nation as a society forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society

If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.

I hold it to be one of the distinguishing excellences of elective over hereditary successions that the talents which nature has provided in sufficient proportion, should be selected by the society for the govenment of their affairs, rather than that this should be be transmitted through the loins of knaves and fools passing from the debauches of the table to those of the bed.

My views and feelings (are) in favor of the abolition of war and I hope it is practicable, by improving the mind and morals of society, tolessen the disposition to war but of its abolition I despair.