We are endeavoring, too, to reduce the government to the practice of a rigorous economy, to avoid burdening the people, and arming… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Truth is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error, and has nothing to fear from the conflict, unless, by human interposition, disarmed… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
What has destroyed liberty and the rights of man in every government which has ever existed under the sun? The generalizing and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The government created by this compact was not made the exclusive or final judge of the extent of the powers delegated to… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Among the most inestimable of our blessings is that ... of liberty to worship our Creator in the way we think most… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Taxes should be continued by annual or biennial reeactments, because a constant hold, by the nation, of the strings of the public… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I am conscious that an equal division of property is impracticable, but the consequences of this enormous inequality producing so much misery… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If we suffer ourselves to be frightened from our post by mere lying, surely the enemy will use that weapon; for what… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Convinced that the republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
When we come to the moral principles on which the government is to be administered, we come to what is proper for… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The constitution has divided the powers of government into three branches, Legislative, Executive and Judiciary, lodging each with a distinct magistracy. The… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I sincerely join you in abjuring all political connection with every foreign power; and tho I cordially wish well to the progress… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The commotions that have taken place in America, as far as they are yet known to me, offer nothing threatening. They are… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The natural aristocracy I consider as the most precious gift of nature for the instruction, the trusts, and government of society. And… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The banks themselves were doing business on capitals three-fourths of which were fictitious. This fictitious capital... is now to be lost, and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Most codes extend their definitions of treason to acts not really against one's country. They do not distinguish between acts against the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Difference of opinion leads to enquiry, and enquiry to truth; and I am sure...we both value too much the freedom of opinion… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Where the law of the majority ceases to be acknowledged, there government ends; the law of the strongest takes its place, and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
There is not a single crowned head in Europe whose talents or merit would entitle him to be elected a vestryman by… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Truth will do well enough if left to shift for herself. She seldom has received much aid from the power of great… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“The pretense that the workings of the mind, like the actions of the body, are subject to the control of laws, does… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
In every free and deliberating society, there must, from the nature of man, be opposite parties, and violent dissensions and discords; and… — 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
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
Unless the mass retains sufficient control over those entrusted with the powers of their government, these will be perverted to their own… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
...is the spirit of the people an infallible, a permanent reliance? ...the spirit of the times may alter, will alter. Our rulers… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If virtuous, the government need not fear the fair operation of attack and defense. Nature has given to man no other means… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I hold it certain that to open the doors of truth and to fortify the habit of testing everything by reason are… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Every man's reason is his own rightful umpire. This principle, with that of acquiescence in the will of the majority, will preserve… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Very many and very meritorious were the worthy patriots who assisted in bringing back our government to its republican tack. To preserve… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Religion, morality, and knowledge are necessary for good government... Therefore schools and the means of educating the people should always be encouraged. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The main objects of all science, the freedom and happiness of man. . . . [are] the sole objects of all legitimate… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The concentrating of powers in the same hands is precisely the definition of despotic government. It will be no alleviation that these… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I considered 4 of these bills [of the revised code of Virginia] as forming a system by which every fibre would be… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“. . . The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A judiciary independent of a king or executive alone, is a good thing; but independence of the will of the nation is… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
When all government ...in little as in great things... shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power; it will… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of the day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I view great cities as pestilential to the morals, the health and the liberties of man. True, they nourish some of 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
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 main objects of all science, the freedom and happiness of man. . . . [are] the sole objects of all legitimate government. A plaque with this quotation, with the first phrase omitted, is in the stairwell of the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/thomas-jefferson-43_firsts_the-main-objects-of-all-science-the-free_1587799.jpg)
![“I considered 4 of these bills [of the revised code of Virginia] as forming a system by which every fibre would be eradicated of antient or future aristocracy; and a foundation laid for a government truly republican.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/thomas-jefferson-43_aristocracy_i-considered-4-of-these-bills-of-the-rev_1443307.jpg)
