--- title: "7 All time Quotes By Thomas Jefferson" description: "7 All time quotes by Thomas Jefferson. Plus more from Thomas Jefferson and more All time sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/thomas-jefferson-43_all-time_the-impious-presumption-of-legislators-a_110622.jpg" --- > [The impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-impious-presumption-of-legislators-and-rulers-civil-as-well-as/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/thomas-jefferson-43_all-time_the-impious-presumption-of-legislators-a_110622.jpg) > [“The constitution of most of the states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-constitution-of-most-of-the-states-and-of-the-united-states/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/889/thomas-jefferson-43_all-time_the-constitution-of-most-of-the-states-a_1134222.jpg) > [The same political parties which now agitiate the US have existed through all time. And in fact the terms of whig and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-same-political-parties-which-now-agitiate-the-us-have-existed/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd3/thomas-jefferson-43_all-time_the-same-political-parties-which-now-agi_1155785.jpg) > [The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-constitutions-of-most-of-our-states-assert-that-all-power-is-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa4/thomas-jefferson-43_2-amendment_the-constitutions-of-most-of-our-states_1808823.jpg) > [ We established however some, although not all its \[self-government\] important principles . The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-established-however-some-although-not-all-its-self-government/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/thomas-jefferson-43_2-amendment_we-established-however-some-although-not_2082638.jpg) > [Above all things, and at all times, practice yourself in good humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/above-all-things-and-at-all-times-practice-yourself-in-good-humor/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ade/thomas-jefferson-43_all-things_above-all-things-and-at-all-times-practi_2083387.jpg) > [From the nature of things, every society must at all times possess within itself the sovereign powers of legislation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/from-the-nature-of-things-every-society-must-at-all-times-possess/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/482/thomas-jefferson-43_all-time_from-the-nature-of-things-every-society_2734505.jpg) ## Other authors on All time ## More by Thomas Jefferson > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/perceiving-the-order-of-nature-to-be-that-individual-happiness-shall/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-but-free-argument-raillery-and-even-ridicule-will-preserve/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-people-are-afraid-of-the-government-that-s-tyranny-but-when/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 unalienable Rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-time/thomas-jefferson/#itemlist", "name": "7 All time Quotes By Thomas Jefferson", "numberOfItems": 7, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over the faith of others, setting up their own opinions and modes of thinking as the only true and infallible, and as such endeavoring to impose them on others, hath established and maintained false religions over the greatest part of the world and through all time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-impious-presumption-of-legislators-and-rulers-civil-as-well-as/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/thomas-jefferson-43_all-time_the-impious-presumption-of-legislators-a_110622.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/thomas-jefferson-43_all-time_the-impious-presumption-of-legislators-a_110622.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/thomas-jefferson-43_all-time_the-impious-presumption-of-legislators-a_110622.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves…” — Thomas Jefferson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The constitution of most of the states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed and that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property, and freedom of the press.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-constitution-of-most-of-the-states-and-of-the-united-states/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/889/thomas-jefferson-43_all-time_the-constitution-of-most-of-the-states-a_1134222.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/889/thomas-jefferson-43_all-time_the-constitution-of-most-of-the-states-a_1134222.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/889/thomas-jefferson-43_all-time_the-constitution-of-most-of-the-states-a_1134222.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The constitution of most of the states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the…” — Thomas Jefferson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The same political parties which now agitiate the US have existed through all time. 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The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves, in all cases to which they think themselves competent, (as in electing their functionaries executive and legislative, and deciding by a jury of themselves, in all judiciary cases in which any fact is involved,) or they may act by representatives, freely and equally chosen; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-established-however-some-although-not-all-its-self-government/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/thomas-jefferson-43_2-amendment_we-established-however-some-although-not_2082638.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/thomas-jefferson-43_2-amendment_we-established-however-some-although-not_2082638.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/thomas-jefferson-43_2-amendment_we-established-however-some-although-not_2082638.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We established however some, although not all its [self-government] important principles . 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