Constitution Quotes by Thomas Jefferson

The juries are our judges of all fact, and of law when they choose it.

— Thomas Jefferson

All power is inherent in the people.

— Thomas Jefferson

A strong body makes the mind strong.

— Thomas Jefferson

An elective despotism was not the government we fought for.

— Thomas Jefferson

Confidence is everywhere the parent of despotism. Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence.

— Thomas Jefferson

The Central Bank is an institution of the most deadly hostility existing against the principles and form of our Constitution.

— Thomas Jefferson

Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the…

— Thomas Jefferson

The Constitution is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any…

— Thomas Jefferson

Whensoever the General Government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force.

— Thomas Jefferson

When two parties make a compact, there results to each a power of compelling the other to execute it.

— Thomas Jefferson

Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction.

— Thomas Jefferson

The moral sense is as much a part of our constitution as that of feeling, seeing, or hearing.

— Thomas Jefferson

Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind…

— Thomas Jefferson

But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare in the constitution they…

— Thomas Jefferson

[I]n Great-Britain it is said that their constitution relies on the house of commons for honesty, and the lords for wisdom; whichwould…

— Thomas Jefferson

To take a single step beyond the boundaries specially drawn around the powers of Congress is to take possession of a boundless…

— Thomas Jefferson

I had rather ask an enlargement of power from the nation, where it is found necessary, than to assume it by a…

— Thomas Jefferson

I do not like [in the new Federal Constitution] the omission of a Bill of Rights providing clearly and without the aid…

— Thomas Jefferson

I consider the government of the U.S. as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises.

— Thomas Jefferson

All authority belongs to the people... In questions of power let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him…

— Thomas Jefferson

Some men look at Constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them, like the ark of the covenant, too sacred to be touched.…

— Thomas Jefferson

The principle of the Constitution is that of a separation of legislative, Executive and Judiciary functions, except in cases specified. If this…

— Thomas Jefferson

We established however some, although not all its [self-government] important principles . The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all…

— Thomas Jefferson

“I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves ; and if we think them…

— Thomas Jefferson

I think myself that we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the…

— Thomas Jefferson

The example of changing a constitution by assembling the wise men of the state, instead of assembling armies, will be worth as…

— Thomas Jefferson

But, you may ask, if the two departments [i.e., federal and state] should claim each the same subject of power, where is…

— Thomas Jefferson

The instability of our laws is really an immense evil. I think it would be well to provide in our constitutions that…

— Thomas Jefferson

The true theory of our Constitution is surely the wisest and best, that the States are independent as to everything within themselves,…

— Thomas Jefferson

“I am certainly not an advocate for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions. I think moderate imperfections had better be…

— Thomas Jefferson

In the constitution of Spain as proposed by the late Cortes, there was a principle entirely new to me:... that no person…

— Thomas Jefferson

I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or…

— Thomas Jefferson

“Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the ark of the covenant, too sacred to be touched.…

— Thomas Jefferson

I join cordially in admiring and revering the Constitution of the United States, the result of the collected wisdom of our country.…

— Thomas Jefferson

I see,... and with the deepest affliction, the rapid strides with which the federal branch of our government is advancing towards the…

— Thomas Jefferson

I do believe that General Washington had not a firm confidence in the durability of our government. He was naturally distrustful of…

— Thomas Jefferson

The constitution of the United States is the result of the collected wisdom of our country.

— Thomas Jefferson

It is every Americans' right and obligation to read and interpret the Constitution for himself.

— Thomas Jefferson

A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or…

— Thomas Jefferson

Experience has already shown that the impeachment the Constitution has provided is not even a scarecrow.

— Thomas Jefferson