No stile of writing is so delightful as that which is all pith, which never omits a necessary word, nor uses an unnecessary one.
I would observe to you that what is called style in writing or speaking is formed very early in life while the imagination is warm, and impressions are permanent.
I am never tempted to pray but when a warm feeling for my friends comes athwart my heart.
When sins are dear to us we are too prone to slide into them again. The act of repentance itself is often sweetened with the thought that it clears our account for a repetition of the same sin.
The bloom of Monticello is chilled by my solitude.
I enclose to you a copy of the declaration of independence as agreed to by the House, and also, as originally framed. You will judge whether it is the better or worse for the Critics.
In Europe the object is to make the most of their land, labour being abundant: here it is to make the most of our labour, land being abundant.
It is while we are young that the habit of industry is formed. If not then, it never is afterwards. The fortune of our lives therefore depends on employing well the short period of our youth.
I could say much about politics, our only entertainment here, but you would not care a fig about that.
I am tired of a life of contention, and of being the personal object for the hatred of every man, who hates the present state of things.
We do not mean to count or weigh our contributions by any standard other than that of our abilities.
I advance it therefore as a suspicion only, that the blacks, whether originally a distinct race, or made distinct by time and circumstances, are inferior to the whites in the endowments of both body and mind.
As you are entered with the class of Nat. philosophy, give to it the hours of lecture, but devote all your other time to Mathematics, avoiding company as the bane of all progress.
I know nothing more important to inculcate into the minds of young people than the wisdom, the honor, and the blessed comfort of living within their income.
There is not a single crowned head in Europe whose talents or merit would entitle him to be elected a vestryman by the people of any parish in America.
We are here lounging our time away, doing nothing, and having nothing to do. It gives me great regret to be passing my time so uselessly when it could have been so importantly employed at home.
Government is being founded on opinion, the opinion of the public, even when it is wrong, ought to be respected to a certain degree.
It is Mortifying to suppose it possible that a people able and zealous to contend with the Enemy should be reduced to fold their Arms for want of the means of defence; yet no resources that we know of, ensure us against this event.
All things here appear to me to trudge on in one and the same round: we rise in the morning that we may eat breakfast, dinner andsupper and to bed again that we may get up the next morning and do the same: so that you never saw two peas more alike than our yesterday and to-day.
The difficulty is no longer to find candidates for the offices, but offices for the candidates.