No government can continue good, but under the control of the people. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If I had to choose between government and a free press, I would choose a free press. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The true foundation of republican government is the equal right of every citizen in his person and property and in their management. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The only greater [evil] than separation... [is] living under a government of discretion. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Whensoever the General Government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
When the people fear the government there is tyranny, when the government fears the people there is liberty. — 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
We are now vibrating between too much and too little government, and the pendulum will rest finally in the middle. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is not by the consolidation or concentration of powers but by their distribution that good government is effected. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Does the government fear us? Or do we fear the government? When the people fear the government, tyranny has found victory. The… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It behooves our citizens to be on their guard, to be firm in their principles, and full of confidence in themselves. We… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
My most earnest wish is to see the republican element of popular control pushed to the maximum of its practicable exercise. I… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Resolved ... that it would be a dangerous delusion were a confidence in the men of our choice to silence our fears… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A rigid economy of the public contributions and absolute interdiction of all useless expenses will go far towards keeping the government honest… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The only orthodox object of the institution of government is to secure the greatest degree of happiness possible to the general mass… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Certainly, no power to prescribe any religious exercise, or to assume authority in religious discipline, has been delegated to the General Government. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
And say, finally, whether peace is best preserved by giving energy to the government or information to the people. This last is… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The opinions of men are not the object of civil government, nor under its jurisdiction; that to suffer the civil magistrate to… — 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
A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If we are made in some degree for others, yet in a greater are we made for ourselves. It were contrary to… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
We have solved, by fair experiment, the great and interesting question whether freedom of religion is compatible with order in government and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
An elective despotism was not the government we fought for, but one which should not only be founded on true free principles,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The influence over government must be shared among all the people. If every individual which composes their mass participates of the ultimate… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“...legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I... [proposed] three distinct grades of education, reaching all classes. 1. Elementary schools for all children generally, rich and poor. 2. Colleges… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It will be said that great societies cannot exist without government. — 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 only greater [evil] than separation... [is] living under a government of discretion.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/thomas-jefferson-43_discretion_the-only-greater-evil-than-separation-is_3151926.jpg)
![“I... [proposed] three distinct grades of education, reaching all classes. 1. Elementary schools for all children generally, rich and poor. 2. Colleges for a middle degree of instruction, calculated for the common purposes of life and such as should be desirable for all who were in easy…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/thomas-jefferson-43_children_i-proposed-three-distinct-grades-of-educ_2306767.jpg)
