I believe the states can best govern our home concerns, and the general government our foreign ones. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as they are injurious to others. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I consider ethics, as well as religion, as supplements to law in the government of man. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Those who bear equally the burthens of Government should equally participate of its benefits. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Government is being founded on opinion, the opinion of the public, even when it is wrong, ought to be respected to a… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[States and the Federal government are] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If government have a right of demanding ad libitum and of taxing us themselves to the full amount of their demand if… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
No government can be maintained without the principle of fear as well as duty. Good men will obey the last, but bad… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“I hope they pardoned them. The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that i wish it to… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The opinions of men should not be the object of any government. Our civil rights are no more dependent on our religious… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I rejoice when I hear of young men of virtue and talents, worthy to receive and likely to preserve the splendid inheritance… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The end of democracy and the defeat of the American Revolution will occur when government falls into the hands of lending institutions… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is a wise rule and should be fundamental in a government disposed to cherish its credit, and at the same time… — 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
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 country is headed toward a single and splendid government of an aristocracy founded on banking institutions and moneyed incorporations and if… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Convinced that the republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights… — 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 sincerely join you in abjuring all political connection with every foreign power; and tho I cordially wish well to the progress… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The commotions that have taken place in America, as far as they are yet known to me, offer nothing threatening. They are… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I am for a government rigorously frugal and simple, applying all the possible savings of the public revenue to the discharge of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I do love this people [the French] with all my heart, and think that with a better religion and a better form… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If any doubt has arisen as to me, my country [Virginia] will have my political creed in the form of a "Declaration… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The diffusion of information and the arraignment of all abuses at the bar of public reason, I deem [one of] the essential… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I have great hope that some patriotic spirit will, at a favorable moment, call (up the law for religious freedom) and make… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then be trusted with the government… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
He alone who walks strict and upright, and who, in matters of opinion, will be contented that others should be as free… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is not the policy of the government in America to give aid to works of any kind. They let things take… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance… — 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
The foundation on which (our government is) built is the natural equality of man, the denial of every pre-eminence but that annexed… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
In every government on earth is some trace of human weakness, some germ of corruption and degeneracy, which cunning will discover, and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The First Amendment has created a wall of separation between the church and the State. But that wall is one directional. It… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is a problem, not clear in my mind, that [a society without government, as among our Indians] is not the best.… — 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
![“[States and the Federal government are] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch of the same government.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/401/thomas-jefferson-43_branches_states-and-the-federal-government-are-co_2619.jpg)
![“I do love this people [the French] with all my heart, and think that with a better religion and a better form of government and their present governors their condition and country would be most enviable.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/9d2/thomas-jefferson-43_conditions_i-do-love-this-people-the-french-with-al_1131931.jpg)
![“If any doubt has arisen as to me, my country [Virginia] will have my political creed in the form of a "Declaration &c." which I was lately directed to draw. This will give decisive proof that my own sentiment concurred with the vote they instructed us to give.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/0a5/thomas-jefferson-43_country_if-any-doubt-has-arisen-as-to-me-my-coun_1434041.jpg)
![“The diffusion of information and the arraignment of all abuses at the bar of public reason, I deem [one of] the essential principles of our government, and consequently [one of] those which ought to shape its administration.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/bb3/thomas-jefferson-43_abuse_the-diffusion-of-information-and-the-arr_2602644.jpg)
![“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. [Misattributed]” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/fb1/thomas-jefferson-43_arms_the-strongest-reason-for-the-people-to-r_951173.jpg)
![“History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes [Letter to von Humboldt, 1813].” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/cba/thomas-jefferson-43_atheism_history-i-believe-furnishes-no-example-o_491860.jpg)
![“It is a problem, not clear in my mind, that [a society without government, as among our Indians] is not the best. But I believe it to be inconsistent with any great degree of population.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/a02/thomas-jefferson-43_believe_it-is-a-problem-not-clear-in-my-mind-tha_1271770.jpg)
