---
title: "7 Constitutional government Quotes By Thomas Jefferson"
description: "7 Constitutional government quotes by Thomas Jefferson. Plus more from Thomas Jefferson and more Constitutional government sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/thomas-jefferson-43_american-government_to-take-a-single-step-beyond-the-boundar_170911.jpg"
---

> [To take a single step beyond the boundaries specially drawn around the powers of Congress is to take possession of a boundless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-take-a-single-step-beyond-the-boundaries-specially-drawn-around/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/thomas-jefferson-43_american-government_to-take-a-single-step-beyond-the-boundar_170911.jpg)

> [When all government ...in little as in great things... shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power; it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-all-government-in-little-as-in-great-things-shall-be-drawn-to/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/690/thomas-jefferson-43_american-government_when-all-government-in-little-as-in-grea_610403.jpg)

> [An elective despotism was not the government we fought for, but one which should not only be founded on true free principles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/an-elective-despotism-was-not-the-government-we-fought-for-but-one/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/thomas-jefferson-43_balance-of-power_an-elective-despotism-was-not-the-govern_690286.jpg)

> [Take not from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/take-not-from-the-mouth-of-labor-the-bread-it-has-earned/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/thomas-jefferson-43_american-government_take-not-from-the-mouth-of-labor-the-bre_1407237.jpg)

> [An elective despotism was not the government we fought for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/an-elective-despotism-was-not-the-government-we-fought-for/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/thomas-jefferson-43_4th-of-july_an-elective-despotism-was-not-the-govern_2285787.jpg)

> [I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground that 'all powers not delegated to the United States, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-consider-the-foundation-of-the-constitution-as-laid-on-this-ground/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/thomas-jefferson-43_american-government_i-consider-the-foundation-of-the-constit_2381782.jpg)

> [The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-legitimate-powers-of-government-extend-to-such-acts-only-as-are-2/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/thomas-jefferson-43_american-founding-fa_the-legitimate-powers-of-government-exte_2485692.jpg)

## 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/)

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