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
[An] act of the Congress of the United States... which assumes powers... not delegated by the Constitution, is not law, but is… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Many of the opposition [to the new Federal Constitution] wish to take from Congress the power of internal taxation. Calculation has convinced… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I served with General Washington in die Legislature of Virginia...and...with Doctor Franklin in Congress. I never heard neither of them speak ten… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It would not be for the public good to have [a majority in Congress of one party] greater [than] two to one. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The interests of the States... ought to be made joint in every possible instance in order to cultivate the idea of our… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The idea of creating a national bank I do not concur in, because it seems now decided that Congress has not that… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The construction applied . . . to those parts of the Constitution of the United States which delegate Congress a power .… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Our tenet ever was . . . that Congress had not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but were restrained… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
On the subject of the history of the American Revolution, you ask who shall write it? Who can write it? And who… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
For the power given to Congress by the Constitution does not extend to the internal regulation of the commerce of a State… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If once the people become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I do believe that General Washington had not a firm confidence in the durability of our government. He was naturally distrustful of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
But the Chief Justice says, 'There must be an ultimate arbiter somewhere.' True, there must; but does that prove it is either… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
How to check these unconstitutional invasions of rights by the Federal judiciary? Not by impeachment in the first instance, but by a… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Congress has scarcely any thing to employ them, and complain that the place [Washington, D.C.] is remarkably dull. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise, in a body to which the people send one hundred and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
On every unauthoritative exercise of power by the legislature must the people rise in rebellion or their silence be construed into a… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I discharge every person under punishment or prosecution under the Sedition Law, because I considered, and now consider, that law to be… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground that 'all powers not delegated to the United States, by… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It would reduce the whole instrument to a single phrase, that of instituting a Congress with power to do whatever would be… — 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 Image
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 Image
[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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
“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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
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 Image
![“[An] act of the Congress of the United States... which assumes powers... not delegated by the Constitution, is not law, but is altogether void and of no force.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1d6/thomas-jefferson-43_assuming_an-act-of-the-congress-of-the-united-sta_2118842.jpg)
![“Many of the opposition [to the new Federal Constitution] wish to take from Congress the power of internal taxation. Calculation has convinced me that this would be very mischievous.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e89/thomas-jefferson-43_calculations_many-of-the-opposition-to-the-new-federa_936908.jpg)
![“It would not be for the public good to have [a majority in Congress of one party] greater [than] two to one.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3da/thomas-jefferson-43_congress_it-would-not-be-for-the-public-good-to-h_869547.jpg)
![“On the subject of the history of the American Revolution, you ask who shall write it? Who can write it? And who will ever be able to write it? Nobody, except merely its external facts... all its councils, designs and discussions having been conducted by Congress [behind] closed doors - and no…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1ae/thomas-jefferson-43_able_on-the-subject-of-the-history-of-the-ame_314441.jpg)
![“Congress has scarcely any thing to employ them, and complain that the place [Washington, D.C.] is remarkably dull.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a43/thomas-jefferson-43_complaining_congress-has-scarcely-any-thing-to-emplo_3219023.jpg)
![“[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/quotes/img-quotes/401/thomas-jefferson-43_branches_states-and-the-federal-government-are-co_2619.jpg)
![“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00c/thomas-jefferson-43_change_single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-t_5515.jpg)
![“Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear their leading you out of [any difficult situation] in the easiest manner possible...” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ebe/thomas-jefferson-43_difficult_though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one_9828.jpg)
