It is to them I look, to the rising generation, and not to the one now in power, for these great reformations… — 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
This is perhaps the most important statement on religion ever made. It clarified the intent of the founders of the constitution irrespective… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[T]o preserve the republican form and principles of our Constitution and cleave to the salutary distribution of powers which that [the Constitution]… — 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
If the question [before justices of the peace] relate to any point of public liberty, or if it be one of those… — 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
[T]he true key for the construction of everything doubtful in a law is the intention of the law-makers. This is most safely… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The example of changing a constitution by assembling the wise men of the state, instead of assembling armies, will be worth as… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
But, you may ask, if the two departments [i.e., federal and state] should claim each the same subject of power, where is… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The instability of our laws is really an immense evil. I think it would be well to provide in our constitutions that… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be incorporated in the Union of the United States, and admitted as soon as possible,… — 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
It is (our) duty . . . to pay especial attention to the principles of government which shall be inculcated therein (at… — 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
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
No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises… — 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
Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the ark of the Covenant, too sacred to be touched.… — 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 am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The constitution has erected no such single tribunal, knowing that to whatever hands confided, with the corruption's of time and party, its… — 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
To draw around the whole nation the strength of the General Government as a barrier against foreign foes... is [one of the]… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Had not a conviction of the danger to which an unlimited occupation of the executive chair would expose the republican Constitution of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
There are two amendments only which I am anxious for: 1. A bill of rights, which it is so much the interest… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
On every question of construction (of the Constitution) let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The system of banking have[for]ever reprobated. I contemplate it as a blot left in all our Constitutions, which, if not covered, will… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
My construction of the constitution is very different from that you quote. It is that each department is truly independent of the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The germ of dissolution of our federal government is in the constitution of the federal judiciary; an irresponsible body, (for impeachment is… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The judiciary of the United States is the subtle corps of sappers and miners constantly working under ground to undermine the foundations… — 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
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
To me... it appears that there have been differences of opinion and party differences, from the first establishment of government to the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The whole body of the nation is the sovereign legislative, judiciary, and executive power for itself. The inconvenience of meeting to exercise… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The question whether the judges are invested with exclusive authority to decide on the constitutionality of a law has been heretofore a… — 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 am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and Constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“The constitution of most of the states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that… — 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
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
Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
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 Image
“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 Image
![“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)
![“[T]o preserve the republican form and principles of our Constitution and cleave to the salutary distribution of powers which that [the Constitution] has established . . . are the two sheet anchors of our Union. If driven from either, we shall be in danger of foundering.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/367/thomas-jefferson-43_anchors_t-o-preserve-the-republican-form-and-pri_573736.jpg)
![“[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)
![“If the question [before justices of the peace] relate to any point of public liberty, or if it be one of those in which the judges may be suspected of bias, the jury undertake to decide both law and fact.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f8a/thomas-jefferson-43_bias_if-the-question-before-justices-of-the-p_982924.jpg)
![“[T]he true key for the construction of everything doubtful in a law is the intention of the law-makers. This is most safely gathered from the words, but may be sought also in extraneous circumstances provided they do not contradict the express words of the law.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0dd/thomas-jefferson-43_circumstances_t-he-true-key-for-the-construction-of-ev_2208761.jpg)
![“But, you may ask, if the two departments [i.e., federal and state] should claim each the same subject of power, where is the common umpire to decide ultimately between them? In cases of little importance or urgency, the prudence of both parties will keep them aloof from the questionable ground…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d33/thomas-jefferson-43_aloof_but-you-may-ask-if-the-two-departments-i_1638614.jpg)
![“To draw around the whole nation the strength of the General Government as a barrier against foreign foes... is [one of the] functions of the General Government on which [our citizens] have a right to call.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d09/thomas-jefferson-43_barriers_to-draw-around-the-whole-nation-the-stre_130273.jpg)
![“The system of banking have[for]ever reprobated. I contemplate it as a blot left in all our Constitutions, which, if not covered, will end in their destruction, which is already hit by the gamblers in corruption, and is sweeping away in its progress the fortunes and morals of our citizens.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e26/thomas-jefferson-43_banking_the-system-of-banking-have-for-ever-repr_402738.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)
