Thomas Jefferson Quotes

The human mind likes a strange idea as little as the body likes a strange protein and resists it with a similar energy.

A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.

I cannot help fearing that men may reach a point where they look on every new theory as a danger, every innovation as a toilsome trouble, every social advance as a first step toward revolution, and that they may absolutely refuse to move at all.

Keep yourselves to what is old, for that is good; our ancestors have proved it to be good; why should not we do as they did? New ideas [i.e. democracy, parliamentary reform] are now coming forward of which I do not nor ever shall approve. Mistrust these ideas and keep to the positive.

And that which yesterday was the novel opinion of one man, to-day becomes the general opinion of the majority. And as soon as this opinion is established, immediately by imperceptible degrees, but beyond power of frustration, the conduct of mankind begins to alter.

It is time that we labored for the happiness of the people. Legislators who are to bring light and order into the world must pursue their course with inexorable tread, fearless and unswerving as the sun.

Progress is never accepted by everybody.

Brothers and sisters: Now is not the time for thinking small, now is not the time for the same-old, same-old establishment politics and stale inside-the-Beltway ideas.

You can't forge a new sort of consensus, you can't forge public opinion, by following public opinion.

When you talk about change, you know what makes it really tough for people is on the one hand you've got tradition, and on the other hand you've got change; in many people's mind, change equals modernization. Tradition, however. I'm a big tradition guy.

When the President makes something a priority, we see action.

The conservative who resists change is as valuable as the radical who proposes it.

Come, come, my conservative friend, wipe the dew off your spectacles, and see that the world is moving.

You don't choose a party because it's the flavour of the month. I feel I will be able to work under a political system. I feel if people like me don't enter politics to bring change, who will?

A country survives its legislation. That truth should not comfort the conservative nor depress the radical. For it means that public policy can enlarge its scope and increase its audacity, can try big experiments without trembling too much...

Readiness to change from old law to new law enfeebles the power of the law.

We can't get any new thinking because we can't get any new thinkers.

There are people and interests that do not want change. It is not in their interest for this system to change.

When you look at the times in history when change was brought about, there were two factors: crisis and leadership.

The spirit of the age is the very thing a great man changes.

Each of us have to decide whether we’re going to be a force for progress or an obstacle to progress.

You change laws by changing lawmakers.

Rule, and change nothing.

We believe that a society in turmoil cannot be saved through mere legislation.

History shows us that the youth are usually a step ahead of their elders when change is required.