--- title: "21 Safe Quotes By Thomas Jefferson" description: "21 Safe quotes by Thomas Jefferson. Plus more from Thomas Jefferson and more Safe sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/thomas-jefferson-43_anti-war_i-know-of-no-safe-depository-of-the-ulti_1325543.jpg" --- > [I know of no safe depository of the ultimate power of the society but the people themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-know-of-no-safe-depository-of-the-ultimate-power-of-the-society-but/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/thomas-jefferson-43_anti-war_i-know-of-no-safe-depository-of-the-ulti_1325543.jpg) > [The people of every country are the only safe guardians of their own rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-people-of-every-country-are-the-only-safe-guardians-of-their-own/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/thomas-jefferson-43_country_the-people-of-every-country-are-the-only_266501.jpg) > [Where the press is free and every man able to read, all is safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/where-the-press-is-free-and-every-man-able-to-read-all-is-safe/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/thomas-jefferson-43_able_where-the-press-is-free-and-every-man-ab_1836202.jpg) > [I deem no government safe which is under the vassalage of any self-constituted authorities, or any other authority than that of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-deem-no-government-safe-which-is-under-the-vassalage-of-any-self/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f55/thomas-jefferson-43_authority_i-deem-no-government-safe-which-is-under_354067.jpg) > [I believe from what I have lately seen that we should be substantially safe were our Citizens Armed, but we have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-believe-from-what-i-have-lately-seen-that-we-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ff/thomas-jefferson-43_arms_i-believe-from-what-i-have-lately-seen-t_1707209.jpg) > [The information of the people at large can alone make them the safe as they are the sole depositary of our political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-information-of-the-people-at-large-can-alone-make-them-the-safe/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef9/thomas-jefferson-43_freedom_the-information-of-the-people-at-large-c_113599.jpg) > [ But of all the views of this law \[universal education\] none is more important, none more legitimate, than that of rendering the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/but-of-all-the-views-of-this-law-universal-education-none-is-more/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/thomas-jefferson-43_education_but-of-all-the-views-of-this-law-univers_2077845.jpg) > [It is an axiom in my mind that our liberty can never be safe but in the hands of the people themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-an-axiom-in-my-mind-that-our-liberty-can-never-be-safe-but-in/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/thomas-jefferson-43_certain_it-is-an-axiom-in-my-mind-that-our-liber_146606.jpg) > [When an instrument admits two constructions, the one safe, the other dangerous, the one precise, the other indefinite, I prefer that which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-an-instrument-admits-two-constructions-the-one-safe-the-other/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/thomas-jefferson-43_construction_when-an-instrument-admits-two-constructi_2943137.jpg) > [Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/every-government-degenerates-when-trusted-to-the-rulers-of-the-people/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/thomas-jefferson-43_government_every-government-degenerates-when-truste_984081.jpg) > [If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it expects what never was and never will be ... The People cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-a-nation-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-free-it-expects-what-never-was-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/028/thomas-jefferson-43_able_if-a-nation-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-f_3158382.jpg) > [I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-know-of-no-safe-depository-of-the-ultimate-powers-of-the-society/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/thomas-jefferson-43_discretion_i-know-of-no-safe-depository-of-the-ulti_1719509.jpg) > [Convinced that the people are the only safe depositories of their own liberty, and that they are not safe unless enlightened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/convinced-that-the-people-are-the-only-safe-depositories-of-their-own/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/thomas-jefferson-43_certain_convinced-that-the-people-are-the-only-s_2338970.jpg) > [The people of every country are the only safe guardians of their own rights, and are the only instruments which can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-people-of-every-country-are-the-only-safe-guardians-of-their-own-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/thomas-jefferson-43_certain_the-people-of-every-country-are-the-only_2477411.jpg) > [The influence over government must be shared among all the people. If every individual which composes their mass participates of the ultimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-influence-over-government-must-be-shared-among-all-the-people-if/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/thomas-jefferson-43_authority_the-influence-over-government-must-be-sh_1956597.jpg) > [I have often thought that nothing would do more extensive good at small expense than the establishment of a small circulating library…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-often-thought-that-nothing-would-do-more-extensive-good-at-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/thomas-jefferson-43_book_i-have-often-thought-that-nothing-would_2396796.jpg) > [The way to have good and safe government is not to trust it all to one, but to divide it among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-way-to-have-good-and-safe-government-is-not-to-trust-it-all-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68c/thomas-jefferson-43_administration_the-way-to-have-good-and-safe-government_2665982.jpg) > [The functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty and property of their constituents. There is no safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-functionaries-of-every-government-have-propensities-to-command-at/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/786/thomas-jefferson-43_able_the-functionaries-of-every-government-ha_229872.jpg) > [ The Constitution on which our Union rests, shall be administered by me \[as President\] according to the safe and honest meaning contemplated… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-constitution-on-which-our-union-rests-shall-be-administered-by-me/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/thomas-jefferson-43_adoption_the-constitution-on-which-our-union-rest_929558.jpg) > [Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/men-by-their-constitutions-are-naturally-divided-into-two-parties-1/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a82/thomas-jefferson-43_cherish_men-by-their-constitutions-are-naturally_1118563.jpg) > [The people, especially when moderately instructed, are the only safe, because the only honest, depositaries of the public rights, and should therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-people-especially-when-moderately-instructed-are-the-only-safe/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/thomas-jefferson-43_administration_the-people-especially-when-moderately-in_1000292.jpg) ## Other authors on Safe ## More by Thomas Jefferson > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/perceiving-the-order-of-nature-to-be-that-individual-happiness-shall/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-but-free-argument-raillery-and-even-ridicule-will-preserve/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-people-are-afraid-of-the-government-that-s-tyranny-but-when/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“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,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe/thomas-jefferson/#itemlist", "name": "21 Safe Quotes By Thomas Jefferson", "numberOfItems": 21, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know of no safe depository of the ultimate power of the society but the people 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This it is the business of the state to effect, and on a general plan.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-an-axiom-in-my-mind-that-our-liberty-can-never-be-safe-but-in/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/thomas-jefferson-43_certain_it-is-an-axiom-in-my-mind-that-our-liber_146606.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/thomas-jefferson-43_certain_it-is-an-axiom-in-my-mind-that-our-liber_146606.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/thomas-jefferson-43_certain_it-is-an-axiom-in-my-mind-that-our-liber_146606.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is an axiom in my mind that our liberty can never be safe but in the hands of the people themselves, and…” — Thomas Jefferson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When an instrument admits two constructions, the one safe, the other dangerous, the one precise, the other indefinite, I prefer that which is safe and precise.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-an-instrument-admits-two-constructions-the-one-safe-the-other/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/thomas-jefferson-43_construction_when-an-instrument-admits-two-constructi_2943137.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/thomas-jefferson-43_construction_when-an-instrument-admits-two-constructi_2943137.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6e/thomas-jefferson-43_construction_when-an-instrument-admits-two-constructi_2943137.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When an instrument admits two constructions, the one safe, the other dangerous, the one precise, the other…” — Thomas Jefferson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/every-government-degenerates-when-trusted-to-the-rulers-of-the-people/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/thomas-jefferson-43_government_every-government-degenerates-when-truste_984081.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/thomas-jefferson-43_government_every-government-degenerates-when-truste_984081.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/thomas-jefferson-43_government_every-government-degenerates-when-truste_984081.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its…” — Thomas Jefferson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 11, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it expects what never was and never will be ... The People cannot be safe without information. When the press is free, and every man is able to read, all is safe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-a-nation-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-free-it-expects-what-never-was-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/028/thomas-jefferson-43_able_if-a-nation-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-f_3158382.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/028/thomas-jefferson-43_able_if-a-nation-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-f_3158382.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/028/thomas-jefferson-43_able_if-a-nation-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-f_3158382.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it expects what never was and never will be ... 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And certainly they would never consent to be so used were they not deceived. 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If every individual which composes their mass participates of the ultimate authority, the government will be safe, because the corrupting of the whole mass will exceed any private resources of wealth, and public ones cannot be provided but by levies on the people. 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If every individual which composes their…” — Thomas Jefferson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 16, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have often thought that nothing would do more extensive good at small expense than the establishment of a small circulating library in every county, to consist of a few well-chosen books, to be lent to the people of the country under regulations as would secure their safe return in due time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-often-thought-that-nothing-would-do-more-extensive-good-at-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/thomas-jefferson-43_book_i-have-often-thought-that-nothing-would_2396796.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/thomas-jefferson-43_book_i-have-often-thought-that-nothing-would_2396796.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/thomas-jefferson-43_book_i-have-often-thought-that-nothing-would_2396796.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have often thought that nothing would do more extensive good at small expense than the establishment of a…” — Thomas Jefferson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 17, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The way to have good and safe government is not to trust it all to one, but to divide it among the many, distributing to everyone exactly the functions in which he is competent ... It is by dividing and subdividing these Republics from the great national one down through all its subordinations until it ends in the administration of everyman's farm by himself, by placing under everyone what his own eye may superintend, that all will be done for the best.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-way-to-have-good-and-safe-government-is-not-to-trust-it-all-to/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68c/thomas-jefferson-43_administration_the-way-to-have-good-and-safe-government_2665982.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68c/thomas-jefferson-43_administration_the-way-to-have-good-and-safe-government_2665982.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68c/thomas-jefferson-43_administration_the-way-to-have-good-and-safe-government_2665982.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The way to have good and safe government is not to trust it all to one, but to divide it among the many…” — Thomas Jefferson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 18, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty and property of their constituents. There is no safe deposit for these but with the people themselves, nor can they be safe with them without information. 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Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes. 2. Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise depositary of the public interests. 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