Welcome to Chris Hoctor's Collection of Quotes

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

Malo periculosam libertatem quam quietam servitutem. Even this evil is productive of good.

Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding and should, therefore, be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense. Their meaning is not to be sought for in metaphysical subtleties which may make anything mean everything or nothing at pleasure. 1823

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.

President Thomas Jefferson: Liberty

Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost. 1786

The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time; the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them. 1774

To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.

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. 1802

Information is the currency of democracy.

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.

It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.

(Notes on Virginia)

I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious.

All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride legitimately, by the grace of God. Letter to Roger C. Weightman, June 24, 1826

I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves.

President Thomas Jefferson: Guns

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.

President Thomas Jefferson: Guns

No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.

President Thomas Jefferson: Military

Whatever enables us to go to war, secures our peace.

President Thomas Jefferson: Military

War is not the best engine for us to resort to; nature has given us one in our commerce, which if properly managed, will be a better instrument for obliging the interested nations of Europe to treat us with justice.

(Letter to Thomas Pickney, 1797)

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.

"Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle. 1807

Newspapers ... serve as chimnies to carry off noxious vapors and smoke.

When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.

President Thomas Jefferson: Economics

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.

President Thomas Jefferson: Economics

The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale.

President Thomas Jefferson: Economics

I think all the world would gain by setting commerce at perfect liberty.