Politics Quotes by Thomas Jefferson

A true patriot will defend his country from its government.

— Thomas Jefferson

A single good government is a blessing to the whole earth.

— Thomas Jefferson

That government is the strongest of which every man feels himself a part.

— Thomas Jefferson

What is it men cannot be made to believe!

— Thomas Jefferson

A free government is of all others the most energetic.

— Thomas Jefferson

The basis of our government (is) is opinion of the people.

— Thomas Jefferson

I have no ambition to govern men; it is a painful and thankless office.

— Thomas Jefferson

Truth between candid minds can never do harm.

— Thomas Jefferson

We often repent of what we have said, but never, never, of that which we have not.

— Thomas Jefferson

The further the departure from direct and constant control by the citizens, the less has the government of the ingredient of republicanism.

— Thomas Jefferson

This I hope will be the age of experiments in government, and that their basis will be founded in principles of honesty,…

— Thomas Jefferson

My passion strengthens daily to quit political turmoil, and retire into the bosom of my family, the only scene of sincere and…

— Thomas Jefferson

No government ought to be without censors; and where the press is free no one ever will.

— Thomas Jefferson

I would rather have newspapers without a government than a government without newspapers.

— Thomas Jefferson

“That liberty [is pure] which is to go to all, and not to the few or the rich alone. (to Horatio Gates, 1798)”

— Thomas Jefferson

No generation has a right to contract debts greater than can be paid off during the course of its own existence.

— Thomas Jefferson

Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error... They are the natural enemies of error, and of error only...…

— Thomas Jefferson

The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the…

— Thomas Jefferson

The clergy, by getting themselves established by law and in-grafted into the machine of government, have been a very formidable engine against…

— Thomas Jefferson

I sincerely believe that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies, and that the principle of spending money to be paid…

— Thomas Jefferson

Where everyman is participator in the government of affairs, not merely at an election one day in the year but everyday, he…

— 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

A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true…

— Thomas Jefferson

If it is believed that these elementary schools will be better managed by the governor and council or any other general authority…

— 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

“...vast accession of strength from their younger recruits, who having nothing in them of the feelings or principles of ’76 now look…

— Thomas Jefferson

To constrain the brute force of the people, the European governments deem it necessary to keep them down by hard labor, poverty…

— Thomas Jefferson

Religious institutions that use government power in support of themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths, or of no…

— Thomas Jefferson

A first attempt to recover the right of self government may fail, so may a second, a third, etc. But as a…

— 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 functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty and property of their constituents. There is no safe…

— Thomas Jefferson

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain…

— Thomas Jefferson

“But our rulers can have authority over such natural rights only as we have submitted to them. The rights of conscience we…

— Thomas Jefferson

“When the clergy addressed General Washington on his departure from the government, it was observed in their consultation that he had never…

— Thomas Jefferson

“Whereas it appeareth that however certain forms of government are better calculated than others to protect individuals in the free exercise of…

— Thomas Jefferson

“...legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people…

— Thomas Jefferson

“...never [enter] into dispute or argument with another. I never saw an instance of one of two disputants convincing the other by…

— Thomas Jefferson

The legislative powers of government reach actions only and not opinions.

— Thomas Jefferson

We need a revolution every 20 years just to keep government honest.

— Thomas Jefferson