I’ve been having a lot of dreams lately which reference the American Revolution and the Founding Fathers. Not especially sure why, but I figured I ought to follow up on it. In trying to track down more info on Jefferson’s famous “Every generation needs a new revolution,” I found a whole treasure trove of Jeffersonian quotes. Here are some of my favorites:

– In the fevered state of our country, no good can ever result from any attempt to set one of these fiery zealots to rights, either in fact or principle. They are determined as to the facts they will believe, and the opinions on which they will act. Get by them, therefore, as you would by an angry bull; it is not for a man of sense to dispute the road with such an animal.

– I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.

– The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.

– Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.

– A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high virtues of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self-preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation.

– If there be one principle more deeply rooted than any other in the mind of every American, it is that we should have nothing to do with conquest.

– Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.

– I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.

– Banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies.

– Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.

– The advertisements are the most truthful part of a newspaper.

That last one is totally awesome. I feel like he’s one of those historical figures I would want to talk to personally, if I had a time machine or whatever. He seems like a real firebrand with a lot of good ideas. Anyway, while on this same vein, here is a list of quotes from some other site grouped around the topic of “revolution.”