Authority Quote by Thomas Jefferson
![“The President is bound to stop at the limits prescribed by our Constitution and law to the authorities in his hands, [and this] would apply in an occasion of peace as well as war.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/68b/thomas-jefferson-43_authority_the-president-is-bound-to-stop-at-the-li_1423355.jpg)
“The President is bound to stop at the limits prescribed by our Constitution and law to the authorities in his hands, [and this] would apply in an occasion of peace as well as war.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: 1801 to James Madison
The President must obey constitutional limits, in peace or war, restricting authority.
In simple terms: President must follow constitutional limits always.
Key Takeaway
Uphold constitutional constraints.
Themes
government
law
constitution
Mood
serious
analytical
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- military action
- emergency powers
- legislative oversight
Key Concepts
political theory
separation of powers
Questions to Reflect On
- How should limits adapt in emergencies?
- What safeguards prevent abuse of power?
A Different Perspective
Crisis may pressure leaders to overstep.
![“Every constitution..., and every law, naturally expires at the end of 19 years [a generation]. If it be enforced longer, it is anact of force, and not of right.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/efe/thomas-jefferson-43_constitution_every-constitution-and-every-law-natural_235260.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)
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)