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Although an old man, I am but a young gardener.
Thomas Jefferson
- Life
- 1743-1826
- Occupations
- teacher, cryptographer, architect
Facts: Wikidata (CC0), as of 2026-07-09
Monticello's research library maintains an entire 'spurious quotations' catalog for Jefferson -- 'The government you elect is the government you deserve' and 'Dissent is the highest form of patriotism' are both on it. What he verifiably wrote is often homelier: the lines here about never putting off till tomorrow and counting to ten when angry come from his 'canons of conduct', rules-for-living letters he wrote for young namesakes late in life. He was drafting advice lists long before the internet started drafting them for him.
Error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.
Thomas Jefferson
How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened.
Thomas Jefferson
Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.
Thomas Jefferson
Never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day.
Thomas Jefferson
Never spend your money before you have it.
Thomas Jefferson
Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
Thomas Jefferson
Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
Thomas Jefferson
Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst and cold.
Thomas Jefferson
Take things always by their smooth handle.
Thomas Jefferson
That Indian swamp in the wilderness.
Thomas Jefferson
We never repent of having eaten too little.
Thomas Jefferson
When a man has cast his longing eye on offices, a rottenness begins in his conduct.
Thomas Jefferson
When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, an hundred.
Thomas Jefferson
The sun has not caught me in bed in fifty years.
Thomas Jefferson