If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
...is the spirit of the people an infallible, a permanent reliance? ...the spirit of the times may alter, will alter. Our rulers… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If virtuous, the government need not fear the fair operation of attack and defense. Nature has given to man no other means… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit… — 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
Unless the mass retains sufficient control over those entrusted with the powers of their government, these will be perverted to their own… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The main objects of all science, the freedom and happiness of man. . . . [are] the sole objects of all legitimate… — 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 banks themselves were doing business on capitals three-fourths of which were fictitious. This fictitious capital... is now to be lost, and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The natural aristocracy I consider as the most precious gift of nature for the instruction, the trusts, and government of society. And… — 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
Most codes extend their definitions of treason to acts not really against one's country. They do not distinguish between acts against the… — 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
Where the principle of difference [between political parties] is as substantial and as strongly pronounced as between the republicans and the monocrats… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Stock dealers and banking companies, by the aid of a paper system, are enriching themselves to the ruin of our country, and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I considered 4 of these bills [of the revised code of Virginia] as forming a system by which every fibre would be… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The concentrating of powers in the same hands is precisely the definition of despotic government. It will be no alleviation that these… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“. . . The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Every man's reason is his own rightful umpire. This principle, with that of acquiescence in the will of the majority, will preserve… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Very many and very meritorious were the worthy patriots who assisted in bringing back our government to its republican tack. To preserve… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Religion, morality, and knowledge are necessary for good government... Therefore schools and the means of educating the people should always be encouraged. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A judiciary independent of a king or executive alone, is a good thing; but independence of the will of the nation is… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of the day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a… — 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 view great cities as pestilential to the morals, the health and the liberties of man. True, they nourish some of the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The people are the ultimate guardians of their own liberties. In every government on earth is some trace of human weakness, some… — 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
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
I think our governments will remain virtuous for many centuries as long as they are chiefly agricultural; and this will be as… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Taxes should be continued by annual or biennial reeactments, because a constant hold, by the nation, of the strings of the public… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
What has destroyed liberty and the rights of man in every government which has ever existed under the sun? The generalizing and… — 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
Among the most inestimable of our blessings is that ... of liberty to worship our Creator in the way we think most… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I am conscious that an equal division of property is impracticable, but the consequences of this enormous inequality producing so much misery… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If we suffer ourselves to be frightened from our post by mere lying, surely the enemy will use that weapon; for what… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Truth will do well enough if left to shift for herself. She seldom has received much aid from the power of great… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“The pretense that the workings of the mind, like the actions of the body, are subject to the control of laws, does… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
In every free and deliberating society, there must, from the nature of man, be opposite parties, and violent dissensions and discords; and… — 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
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 main objects of all science, the freedom and happiness of man. . . . [are] the sole objects of all legitimate government. A plaque with this quotation, with the first phrase omitted, is in the stairwell of the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/a78/thomas-jefferson-43_firsts_the-main-objects-of-all-science-the-free_1587799.jpg)
![“Where the principle of difference [between political parties] is as substantial and as strongly pronounced as between the republicans and the monocrats of our country, I hold it as honorable to take a firm and decided part and as immoral to pursue a middle line, as between the parties of honest…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/00d/thomas-jefferson-43_country_where-the-principle-of-difference-betwee_1164575.jpg)
![“I considered 4 of these bills [of the revised code of Virginia] as forming a system by which every fibre would be eradicated of antient or future aristocracy; and a foundation laid for a government truly republican.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/87a/thomas-jefferson-43_aristocracy_i-considered-4-of-these-bills-of-the-rev_1443307.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)
![“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)
