"I own that I am not a friend……" — Thomas Jefferson
"I own that I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive."
Related Quotes
- Government is the enemy until you need a friend. — William Cohen
- I love my government not least for the extent to which it leaves me alone. — John Updike
- Government has within it a tendency to abuse its powers. — John C. Calhoun
- I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited power. I am naturally very jealous for the rights and… — Benjamin Franklin
- Nothing turns out to be so oppressive and unjust as a feeble government. — Edmund Burke
- I am against government by crony. — Unknown Author
- I have very little experience of self-government. In fact, I am one of the most governed people in the world. — Prince Philip
- A free government is of all others the most energetic. — Thomas Jefferson
- All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts pathological personalities. — Frank Herbert
- It is really exhausting to live in a dictatorship of 'Me', which is basically a tyranny of others. — Stefan Molyneux
1,437 Quotes by Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson has 1,437 quotes on this site. A few more worth reading:
- Religious leaders will always avail themselves of public ignorance for their own purpose.
- Born in other countries, yet believing you could be happy in this, our laws acknowledge, as they should do, your…
- [Emigrants] will bring with them the principles of the governments they leave, imbibed in their early youth; or, if able…
- The only security of all is in a free press. The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted…
- It is strangely absurd to suppose that a million of human beings, collected together, are not under the same moral…
- The sentiments of men are known not only by what they receive, but what they reject also.
- If ever there was a holy war, it was that which saved our liberties and gave us independence.
- We prefer war in all cases to tribute under any form and to any people whatever.
- I have always said that a studious perusal of the sacred volume will make better citizens, better fathers, and better…
- The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of all the exercises walking is the best.
- It is not only vain, but wicked, in a legislator to frame laws in opposition to the laws of nature,…
- Motherhood is the keystone of the arch of matrimonial happiness.