Earth Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“Still less, let it be proposed that our properties within our own territories shall be taxed or regulated by any power on earth but our own. The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time: the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Draft of the Declaration of Independence, 1776
Advocates for self‑governance and tax autonomy, rejecting external control over a people’s property and liberty.
In simple terms: People should control their own taxes and laws.
Key Takeaway
Defend local sovereignty.
Themes
liberty
self‑governance
taxation
sovereignty
Mood
principled
defiant
Type
political
historical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- local government
- tax policy
- civil rights
- international law
Key Concepts
political philosophy
rights
federalism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance autonomy with global interdependence?
- What mechanisms protect against foreign economic domination?
A Different Perspective
External powers may still exert pressure despite legal safeguards.
![“Our properties within our own territories [should not] be taxed or regulated by any power on earth but our own.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eaa/thomas-jefferson-43_american-revolution_our-properties-within-our-own-territorie_3000821.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)
