the qualifications for self-government in society are not innate. they are the result of habit and long training. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“Any Government strong enough to give you what you want, is a Government strong enough to take everything you have!” — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Government can do something for the people only in proportion as it can do something to the people. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I own that I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A government held together by the bands of reason only, requires much compromise of opinion. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
ONLY a government that is AFRAID of its citizens tries to control them. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The general (federal) government will tend to monarchy, which will fortify itself from day to day, instead of working its own cures. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Ignorance and bigotry, like other insanities, are incapable of self-government. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
What an augmentation of the field for jobbing, speculating, plundering, office-building and office-hunting would be produced by an assumption of all the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The cement of this union is in the heart blood of every American. I do not believe there is on earth a… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A noiseless course, not meddling with the affairs of others, unattractive of notice, is a mark that society is going on in… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Government as well as religion has furnished its schisms, its persecutions and its devices for fattening idleness on the earnings of the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Where everyman is participator in the government of affairs, not merely at an election one day in the year but everyday, he… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The danger is that the cruel arts of their oppressors have enchained their minds, have kept them in the ignorance of children,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
To seek out the best [persons to serve in the government] though the whole Union, we must resort to the information which… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I am for a government rigorously frugal & simple, applying all the possible savings of the public revenue to the discharge of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[Emigrants] will bring with them the principles of the governments they leave, imbibed in their early youth; or, if able to throw… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Every State has a natural right in cases not within the compact (casus non faederis) to nullify of their own authority all… — 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
The executive, in our government is not the sole, it is scarcely the principle, object of my jealousy. The tyranny of the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Stock dealers and banking companies, by the aid of a paper system, are enriching themselves to the ruin of our country, and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Our country is too large to have all its affairs directed by a single government. Public servants at such a distance, and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want bread. — 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… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The clergy, by getting themselves established by law and in-grafted into the machine of government, have been a very formidable engine against… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Among the most inestimable of our blessings, also, is that.. of liberty to worship our Creator in the way we think most… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[I]n Great-Britain it is said that their constitution relies on the house of commons for honesty, and the lords for wisdom; whichwould… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If it is believed that these elementary schools will be better managed by the governor and council or any other general authority… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
With respect to our State and federal governments, I do not think their relations correctly understood by foreigners. They generally suppose the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
We think, in America, that it is necessary to introduce the people into every department of government, as far as they are… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
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
I have so much confidence in the good sense of man, and his qualifications for self-government, that I am never afraid of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The States should be urged to concede to the General Government, with a saving of chartered rights, the exclusive power of establishing… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
So confident am I in the intentions, as well as wisdom, of the government, that I shall always be satisfied that what… — 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
![“To seek out the best [persons to serve in the government] though the whole Union, we must resort to the information which from the best of men, acting disinterestedly and with ther purest motives, is something incorrect…No duty the Executive had to perform was so trying as to put the right man in…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/thomas-jefferson-43_acting_to-seek-out-the-best-persons-to-serve-in_1035539.jpg)
![“[Emigrants] will bring with them the principles of the governments they leave, imbibed in their early youth; or, if able to throw off, it will be in exchange for an unbounded licentiousness, passing, as is usual, from one extreme to another. It would be a miracle were they to stop precisely at the…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/451/thomas-jefferson-43_able_emigrants-will-bring-with-them-the-princ_1395724.jpg)
![“[I]n Great-Britain it is said that their constitution relies on the house of commons for honesty, and the lords for wisdom; whichwould be a rational reliance if honesty were to be bought with money, and if wisdom were hereditary.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/033/thomas-jefferson-43_britain_i-n-great-britain-it-is-said-that-their_143406.jpg)
