Concern Quote by Thomas Jefferson
![“[T]he States can best govern our home concerns and the general government our foreign ones. I wish, therefore . . . never to see all offices transferred to Washington, where, further withdrawn from the eyes of the people, they may more secretly be bought and sold at market.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6ea/thomas-jefferson-43_concern_t-he-states-can-best-govern-our-home-con_638091.jpg)
“[T]he States can best govern our home concerns and the general government our foreign ones. I wish, therefore . . . never to see all offices transferred to Washington, where, further withdrawn from the eyes of the people, they may more secretly be bought and sold at market.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Correspondence to James Madison, 1797
Central government should handle foreign affairs, while local matters stay under state control to prevent corruption.
In simple terms: Federal power for foreign, states for local.
Key Takeaway
Support limited federal authority for domestic issues.
Themes
federalism
government
corruption
local autonomy
Mood
analytical
concerned
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- legislative debate
- public administration
- civic education
Key Concepts
political theory
constitutional law
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure accountability in federal actions?
- What safeguards protect state sovereignty?
A Different Perspective
Centralization can lead to power abuse.
![“[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)
