Thomas Jefferson Quotes Here are quotes by one of America's
greatest founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, and related
quotations about America's founding. For more history, see
Founding Fathers. A free people [claim] their rights as derived
from the laws of nature, and not as the gift of their chief
magistrate. Thomas Jefferson, Rights of British America, 1774 A
judiciary independent of a king or executive alone, is a good
thing; but independence of the will of the nation is a solecism,
at least in a republican government. Thomas Jefferson, letter to
Thomas Ritchie, December 25, 1820 A morsel of genuine history is
a thing so rare as to be always valuable. Thomas Jefferson,
September 8, 1817 A rigid economy of the public contributions
and absolute interdiction of all useless expenses will go far
towards keeping the government honest and unoppressive. Thomas
Jefferson, letter to Lafayette, 1823 A strong body makes the
mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun.
While this gives moderate exerci