Duty Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“Our legislators are not sufficiently apprized of the rightful limits of their power; that their true office is to declare and enforce only our natural rights and duties, and to take none of them from us.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: To James Madison, 1787
Jefferson stresses that legislators must recognize their limited role: safeguarding natural rights, not seizing them, and must refrain from overreach.
In simple terms: Lawmakers protect rights, not take them.
Key Takeaway
Uphold rights, limit power.
Themes
government
rights
limits
Mood
civic
concerned
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legislation
- civil liberties
- public policy
- education
Key Concepts
political theory
constitutional law
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens enforce limits on power?
- What mechanisms ensure rights are protected?
A Different Perspective
Power can be abused despite good intentions.
![“[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)
