Civil rights Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“The rights of the people to the exercise and fruits of their own industry can never be protected against the selfishness of rulers not subject to their control at short periods.”
About This Quote
People's rights to benefit from their own work are vulnerable to selfish rulers who lack accountability.
In simple terms: Rights to personal industry are fragile under unaccountable power.
Key Takeaway
Protect individual economic freedom.
Themes
freedom
rights
government
economics
Mood
cautious
serious
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legislation
- activism
- business ownership
- policy making
Key Concepts
liberalism
political theory
property rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies guard against selfish rulers?
- What mechanisms ensure accountability?
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)
