--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A wise and frugal Government, which shall…" description: "\"A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76a/thomas-jefferson-43_bread_a-wise-and-frugal-government-which-shall_2572082.jpg" --- # A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men… ![“A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76a/thomas-jefferson-43_bread_a-wise-and-frugal-government-which-shall_2572082.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76a/thomas-jefferson-43_bread_a-wise-and-frugal-government-which-shall_2572082.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76a/thomas-jefferson-43_bread_a-wise-and-frugal-government-which-shall_2572082.jpg) > “A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities.” [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A good government limits interference, allowing individuals to pursue industry and improvement freely, while ensuring fair labor rewards, which leads to overall happiness. **In simple terms:** Free, fair government lets people work and thrive. Key Takeaway Balance regulation with personal freedom for prosperity. Themes government freedom economics Mood analytical balanced Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - business regulation - labor negotiations - community development Key Concepts liberalism property rights social contract fair labor Questions to Reflect On - What is the ideal balance between regulation and liberty? - How does fair labor contribute to societal happiness? A Different Perspective Too little regulation may cause inequality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread/) [Felicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felicity/) [Frugal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frugal/) [Frugal Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frugal-government-482203/) [Good government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-government/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-necessary-279921/) [Government Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-shall-482204/) [Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mouths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouths/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Regulate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regulate/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-wise-and-frugal-government-which-shall-restrain-men-from-injuring/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-wise-and-frugal-government-which-shall-leave-men-free-to-regulate/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical...A wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-compel-a-man-to-furnish-contributions-of-money-for-the-propagation-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Americans, both politicians and voters, may have become corrupted by big government beyond redemption. A virtuous government requires a virtuous people. A frugal government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/americans-both-politicians-and-voters-may-have-become-corrupted-by/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [If human beings are fundamentally good, no government is necessary; if they are fundamentally bad, any government, being composed of human beings, would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-woodworth/if-human-beings-are-fundamentally-good-no-government-is-necessary-if/) [Fred Woodworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-woodworth/) > [So confident am I in the intentions, as well as wisdom, of the government, that I shall always be satisfied that what is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/so-confident-am-i-in-the-intentions-as-well-as-wisdom-of-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is (our) duty . . . to pay especial attention to the principles of government which shall be inculcated therein (at the University),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-our-duty-to-pay-especial-attention-to-the-principles-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I think myself that we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious. Government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-think-myself-that-we-have-more-machinery-of-government-than-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-think-we-have-more-machinery-of-government-than-is-necessary-too/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Take not from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/take-not-from-the-mouth-of-labor-the-bread-it-has-earned/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for a government rigorously frugal and simple, applying all the possible savings of the public revenue to the discharge of the national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-a-government-rigorously-frugal-and-simple-applying-all-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for a government rigorously frugal & simple, applying all the possible savings of the public revenue to the discharge of the national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-a-government-rigorously-frugal-simple-applying-all-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is not by the consolidation or concentration of powers but by their distribution that good government is effected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-not-by-the-consolidation-or-concentration-of-powers-but-by/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [If, in my retirement to the humble station of a private citizen, I am accompanied with the esteem and approbation of my fellow citizens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-in-my-retirement-to-the-humble-station-of-a-private-citizen-i-am/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Religion, morality, and knowledge are necessary for good government... Therefore schools and the means of educating the people should always be encouraged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/religion-morality-and-knowledge-are-necessary-for-good-government/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Thomas Jefferson > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/perceiving-the-order-of-nature-to-be-that-individual-happiness-shall/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-but-free-argument-raillery-and-even-ridicule-will-preserve/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-people-are-afraid-of-the-government-that-s-tyranny-but-when/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Explore all 2,098 Thomas Jefferson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More Bread quotes > [French women don't eat Wonder Bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireille-guiliano/french-women-don-t-eat-wonder-bread/) [Mireille Guiliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireille-guiliano/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [I don't eat meat - chicken, fish, none of that. I eat a lot of vegetable sandwiches, like lettuce, tomatoes, sprouts, cucumbers, whatever I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gza/i-don-t-eat-meat-chicken-fish-none-of-that-i-eat-a-lot-of-vegetable/) [Gza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gza/) > [“We should remark the grace and fascination that there is even in the incidentals of Nature's processes.. When a loaf of bread,. for instance,.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-should-remark-the-grace-and-fascination-that-there-is-even-in-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [When I met you you were oh so sweet, now you give me the bread and you take all the meat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/when-i-met-you-you-were-oh-so-sweet-now-you-give-me-the-bread-and-you/) [Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/) > [When you fight to give your family bread, that's not passion anymore: that's conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoel-romero/when-you-fight-to-give-your-family-bread-that-s-not-passion-anymore/) [Yoel Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoel-romero/) > [I think the best Thanksgiving we ever had was one where we didn't even have a turkey. Mom and Dad sat us kids down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-the-best-thanksgiving-we-ever-had-was-one-where-we-didn-t/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Bread is a second cause; the LORD Himself is the first source of our sustenance. He can work without the second cause as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bread-is-a-second-cause-the-lord-himself-is-the-first-source-of-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Even if we have to go without bread, we Albanians do not violate principles. We do not betray Marxism - Leninism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enver-hoxha/even-if-we-have-to-go-without-bread-we-albanians-do-not-violate/) [Enver Hoxha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enver-hoxha/) > [Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/man-preys-on-man-and-you-mourn-for-the-idle-tapestry-that-decorated-a/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [“Nine times out of ten, people pick the wrong food. 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