I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, & as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.

—Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 Jan. 1787  {More}

…all men are created equal…

—Declaration of Independence, 1776  {More}

The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time…

—Thomas Jefferson, Summary View of the Rights of British America, July 1774  {More}

…the eyes of the virtuous, all over the earth, are turned with anxiety on us, as the only depositories of the sacred fire of liberty, and that our falling into anarchy would decide forever the destinies of mankind, and seal the political heresy that man is incapable of self government…”

—--Thomas Jefferson to John Hollins, 5 May 1811  {More}

the boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave

—Thomas Jefferson to Richard Rush, 20 Oct. 1820  {More}

We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal & independant, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent & inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, & liberty, & the pursuit of happiness…

—From Jefferson's Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence, July 1776  {More}

this was the object of the Declaration of Independance. not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of, not merely to say things which had never been said before; but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject; i[n] terms so plain and firm as to command their assent, and to justify ourselves in the independant stand we [are c]ompelled to take.

—Thomas Jefferson to Henry Lee, 8 May 1825  {More}

…the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. it is it’s natural manure.

—Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 13 Nov. 1787  {More}