Every nation has a right to govern itself internally under what forms it pleases, and to change these forms at its own… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Every people may establish what form of government they please, and change it as they please, the will of the nation being… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The Constitution is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The provisions we have made [for our government] are such as please ourselves; they answer the substantial purposes of government and of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[If a book were] very innocent, and one which might be confided to the reason of any man; not likely to be… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The contradictory experiments of chemists leave us at liberty to conclude what we please. My conclusion is, that art has not yet… — 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
To lay taxes to provide for the general welfare of the United States, that is to say, 'to lay taxes for 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