No government can continue good, but under the control of the people. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
With all the imperfections of our present government, it is without comparison the best existing, or that ever did exist. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I am tired of a life of contention, and of being the personal object for the hatred of every man, who hates… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
With nations as with individuals our interests soundly calculated will ever be found inseparable from our moral duties. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“The care of human life and happiness, and their destruction is the first and only legitimate object of a good government.” — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The care of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the first and only legitimate object of good government. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Civil government being the sole object of forming societies, its administration must be conducted by common consent. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A little rebellion now and then... is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The greatest calamity which could befall us would be submission to a government of unlimited powers. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
We think, in America, that it is necessary to introduce the people into every department of government, as far as they are… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
With respect to our State and federal governments, I do not think their relations correctly understood by foreigners. They generally suppose the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I hope we shall take warning from the example of England and crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
So confident am I in the intentions, as well as wisdom, of the government, that I shall always be satisfied that what… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
To take a single step beyond the boundaries specially drawn around the powers of Congress is to take possession of a boundless… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I have so much confidence in the good sense of man, and his qualifications for self-government, that I am never afraid of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
I sincerely believe that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies, and that the principle of spending money to be paid… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The mobs of the great cities add just so much to the support of pure government as sores do to the strength… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The principle of the Constitution is that of a separation of legislative, Executive and Judiciary functions, except in cases specified. If this… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“...vast accession of strength from their younger recruits, who having nothing in them of the feelings or principles of ’76 now look… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
To constrain the brute force of the people, the European governments deem it necessary to keep them down by hard labor, poverty… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Religious institutions that use government power in support of themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths, or of no… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A first attempt to recover the right of self government may fail, so may a second, a third, etc. But as a… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves ; and if we think them… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I think myself that we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The second office in the government is honorable and easy; the first is but a splendid misery. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The best commentary on the principles of government which has ever been written. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“The policy of the American government is to leave its citizens free, neither restraining them nor aiding them in their pursuits.” — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Governments constantly choose between telling lies and fighting wars, with the end result always being the same. One will always lead to… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Confidence is everywhere the parent of despotism. Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The persons and property of our citizens are entitled to the protection of our government in all places where they may lawfully… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
This I hope will be the age of experiments in government, and that their basis will be founded in principles of honesty,… — 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
