Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of Liberty. Author: Thomas Jefferson Copy Quote More from Thomas Jefferson “The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave. ” “Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto.” “To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he d…” “I never will, by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance or admit a r…”