History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The most effective means of preventing tyranny is to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large, and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The issuing power [of money] should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The purse of the people is the real seat of sensibility. Let it be drawn upon largely, and they will then listen… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The information of the people at large can alone make them the safe as they are the sole depositary of our political… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The tumults in America I expected would have produced in Europe an unfavorable opinion of our political state. But it has not.… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
what is wanting to restore us to our station among our confederates? not more money from the people. enough has been raised… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is an axiom in my mind that our liberty can never be safe but in the hands of the people themselves,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends [life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness] it is the right of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The most effective way to find ourselves enslaved will not be done openly. If weakened we will sink gradually. I ask, who… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[T]he States can best govern our home concerns and the general government our foreign ones. I wish, therefore . . . never… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I hold it certain that to open the doors of truth and to fortify the habit of testing everything by reason are… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The spirit of the times may alter, will alter. Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless... From the conclusion of this… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I have never conceived that having been in public life required me to belie my sentiments, or to conceal them. Opinion and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The Christian god can easily be pictured as virtually the same god as the many ancient gods of past civilizations. The Christian… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
What country before ever existed a century and a half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve its liberties if their… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I am persuaded myself that the good sense of the people will always be found to be the best army. They may… — 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
My reason for fixing them in office for a term of years, rather than for life, was that they might have an… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. Already they have raised up a moneyed aristocracy… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Convinced that the people are the only safe depositories of their own liberty, and that they are not safe unless enlightened to… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
No government can continue good but under the control of the people; and . . . . their minds are to be… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Above all things I hope the education of the common people will be attended to; convinced that on their good sense we… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If, then, the control of the people over the organs of their government be the measure of its republicanism, and I confess… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The people of every country are the only safe guardians of their own rights, and are the only instruments which can be… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
We must make our choice between economy and liberty or confusion and servitude...If we run into such debts, we must be taxed… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
You have lived longer than I have and perhaps may have formed a different judgment on better grounds; but my observations do… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The following [addition to the Bill of Rights] would have pleased me: The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[T]he people seem to have deposited the monarchical and taken up the republican government with as much ease as would have attended… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
That government is best which governs least, because its people discipline themselves. If we are directed from Washington (heads of an organization)… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If once the people become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Instead of that liberty which takes root and growth in the progress of reason, if recovered by mere force or accident, it… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The tax which will be paid for the purpose of education is not more than the thousandth part of what will be… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I think by far the most important bill in our whole code is that for the diffusion of knowlege among the people.… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The firmness with which the (American) people have withstood the... abuses of the press, the discernment they have manifested between truth and… — 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
![“The issuing power [of money] should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/9f3/thomas-jefferson-43_bankers_the-issuing-power-of-money-should-be-tak_636375.jpg)
![“Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends [life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness] it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government...” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/042/thomas-jefferson-43_ends_whenever-any-form-of-government-becomes_2626939.jpg)
![“[T]he States can best govern our home concerns and the general government our foreign ones. I wish, therefore . . . never to see all offices transferred to Washington, where, further withdrawn from the eyes of the people, they may more secretly be bought and sold at market.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/6ea/thomas-jefferson-43_concern_t-he-states-can-best-govern-our-home-con_638091.jpg)
![“The following [addition to the Bill of Rights] would have pleased me: The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or otherwise to publish anything but false facts affecting injuriously the life, liberty or reputation of others, or affecting the peace of the…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/a40/thomas-jefferson-43_bill-of-rights_the-following-addition-to-the-bill-of-ri_638662.jpg)
![“[T]he people seem to have deposited the monarchical and taken up the republican government with as much ease as would have attended their throwing off an old and putting on a new suit of clothes.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/124/thomas-jefferson-43_american-revolution_t-he-people-seem-to-have-deposited-the-m_2373138.jpg)
