Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the ark of the Covenant, too sacred to be touched.… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
When all government ...in little as in great things... shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power; it will… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The government created by this compact was not made the exclusive or final judge of the extent of the powers delegated to… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Every constitution..., and every law, naturally expires at the end of 19 years [a generation]. If it be enforced longer, it is… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. . . . We might as well… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Difference of opinion leads to enquiry, and enquiry to truth; and I am sure...we both value too much the freedom of opinion… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The same political parties which now agitiate the US have existed through all time. And in fact the terms of whig and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is important to strengthen the State governments; and as this cannot be done by any change in the Federal Constitution (for… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
An elective despotism was not the government we fought for, but one which should not only be founded on true free principles,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I will now add what I do not like. First, the omission of a bill of rights providing clearly and without the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground that 'all powers not delegated to the United States, by… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
To me... it appears that there have been differences of opinion and party differences, from the first establishment of government to the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The whole body of the nation is the sovereign legislative, judiciary, and executive power for itself. The inconvenience of meeting to exercise… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
But the Chief Justice says, 'There must be an ultimate arbiter somewhere.' True, there must; but does that prove it is either… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Our Constitution... has not left the religion of its citizens under the power of its public functionaries, were it possible that any… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I wish it were possible to obtain a single amendment to our Constitution. I would be willing to depend on that alone… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“The Constitution of most of our states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The wisdom of our ages and the blood of our heroes has been devoted to the attainment of trial by jury. It… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is to them I look, to the rising generation, and not to the one now in power, for these great reformations… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Many are the exercises of power reserved to the States wherein a uniformity of proceeding would be advantageous to all. Such are… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I believe that justice is instinct and innate, that the moral sense is as much a part of our constitution as that… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
While the principles of our Constitution give just latitude to inquiry, every citizen faithful to it will deem embodied expressions of discontent… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
When we come to the moral principles on which the government is to be administered, we come to what is proper for… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and Constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“The constitution of most of the states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The constitution has divided the powers of government into three branches, Legislative, Executive and Judiciary, lodging each with a distinct magistracy. The… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The question whether the judges are invested with exclusive authority to decide on the constitutionality of a law has been heretofore a… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Had not a conviction of the danger to which an unlimited occupation of the executive chair would expose the republican Constitution of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
How to check these unconstitutional invasions of rights by the Federal judiciary? Not by impeachment in the first instance, but by a… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
There are two amendments only which I am anxious for: 1. A bill of rights, which it is so much the interest… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
On every question of construction (of the Constitution) let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is (our) duty . . . to pay especial attention to the principles of government which shall be inculcated therein (at… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It would reduce the whole instrument to a single phrase, that of instituting a Congress with power to do whatever would be… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
My construction of the constitution is very different from that you quote. It is that each department is truly independent of the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The judiciary of the United States is the subtle corps of sappers and miners constantly working under ground to undermine the foundations… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
For the power given to Congress by the Constitution does not extend to the internal regulation of the commerce of a State… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The germ of dissolution of our federal government is in the constitution of the federal judiciary; an irresponsible body, (for impeachment is… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The system of banking have[for]ever reprobated. I contemplate it as a blot left in all our Constitutions, which, if not covered, will… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
[States and the Federal government are] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share
![“Every constitution..., and every law, naturally expires at the end of 19 years [a generation]. If it be enforced longer, it is anact of force, and not of right.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/efe/thomas-jefferson-43_constitution_every-constitution-and-every-law-natural_235260.jpg)
![“The system of banking have[for]ever reprobated. I contemplate it as a blot left in all our Constitutions, which, if not covered, will end in their destruction, which is already hit by the gamblers in corruption, and is sweeping away in its progress the fortunes and morals of our citizens.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/e26/thomas-jefferson-43_banking_the-system-of-banking-have-for-ever-repr_402738.jpg)
