Freedom of the person under the protection of habeas corpus. I deem one of the essential principles of our government. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The equal rights of man and the happiness of every individual are now acknowledged to be the only legitimate objects of government. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Taxation is, in fact, the most difficult function of government and that against which their citizens are most apt to be refractory. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[A]lthough a republican government is slow to move, yet when once in motion, its momentum becomes irresistible. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[The people] are in truth the only legitimate proprietors of the soil and government. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
In a government bottomed on the will of all, the... liberty of every individual citizen becomes interesting to all. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I consider ethics, as well as religion, as supplements to law in the government of man. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A cold-blooded, calculation, unprincipled, usurper, without a virtue, no statesman, knowing nothing of commerce, political economy, or civil government, and supplying ignorance… — 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
I consider the government of the U.S. as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If there be any among us who wish to dissolve the Union or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed,… — 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
It is time enough, for the rightful purposes of civil government, for its officers to interfere [in the propagation of religious teachings]… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance… — 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
Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have… — 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
Political dissension is doubtless a less evil than the lethargy of despotism: but still it is a great evil, and it would… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“Men have differed in opinion, and been divided into parties by these opinions, from the first origin of societies; and in 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 power in our government is not the only, perhaps not even the principal, object of my solicitude. The tyranny of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Where the principle of difference [between political parties] is as substantial and as strongly pronounced as between the republicans and the monocrats… — 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
Those who bear equally the burthens of Government should equally participate of its benefits. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Government is being founded on opinion, the opinion of the public, even when it is wrong, ought to be respected to a… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Political interest [can] never be separated in the long run from moral right. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
We are completely saddled and bridled, and... the bank is so firmly mounted on us that we must go where it will… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Where thought is free in its range, we need never fear to hazard what is good in itself. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I believe the states can best govern our home concerns, and the general government our foreign ones. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as they are injurious to others. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I could say much about politics, our only entertainment here, but you would not care a fig about that. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I deny the power of the general government to making paper money, or anything else a legal tender. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
With the same honest views, the most honest men often form different conclusions. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
An hereditary aristocracy... will change the form of our governments from the best to the worst in the world. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is surely time for men to think for themselves, and to throw off the authority of names so artificially magnified. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
One single object . . . [will merit] the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation. — 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
![“[A]lthough a republican government is slow to move, yet when once in motion, its momentum becomes irresistible.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9e5/thomas-jefferson-43_government_a-lthough-a-republican-government-is-slo_2166652.jpg)
![“[The people] are in truth the only legitimate proprietors of the soil and government.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/927/thomas-jefferson-43_government_the-people-are-in-truth-the-only-legitim_2093506.jpg)
![“It is time enough, for the rightful purposes of civil government, for its officers to interfere [in the propagation of religious teachings] when principles break out into overt acts against peace and good order.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fac/thomas-jefferson-43_break_it-is-time-enough-for-the-rightful-purpo_2061978.jpg)
![“The provisions we have made [for our government] are such as please ourselves; they answer the substantial purposes of government and of justice, and other purposes than these should not be answered.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/27d/thomas-jefferson-43_answers_the-provisions-we-have-made-for-our-gove_1082584.jpg)
![“Where the principle of difference [between political parties] is as substantial and as strongly pronounced as between the republicans and the monocrats of our country, I hold it as honorable to take a firm and decided part and as immoral to pursue a middle line, as between the parties of honest…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00d/thomas-jefferson-43_country_where-the-principle-of-difference-betwee_1164575.jpg)
![“Political interest [can] never be separated in the long run from moral right.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ba5/thomas-jefferson-43_character_political-interest-can-never-be-separate_2925329.jpg)
![“One single object . . . [will merit] the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/934/thomas-jefferson-43_endless_one-single-object-will-merit-the-endless_340610.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)
