The bloom of Monticello is chilled by my solitude.

we defer therefore till this time twelve month to avail ourselves of the instruction of that place, and particularly of your kindness in the two branches of Botany and Natural history to which we wish him particularly to apply.

The greatest honor of a man is in doing good to his fellow men, not in destroying them.

The merchant has no country .

If we can but prevent the government from wasting the labours of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy.

On the subject of the history of the American Revolution, you ask who shall write it? Who can write it? And who will ever be able to write it? Nobody, except merely its external facts... all its councils, designs and discussions having been conducted by Congress [behind] closed doors - and no members, as far as I know, having even made notes of them. These, which are the life and soul of history, must forever be unknown.

Botany I rank with the most valuable sciences.