--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that banking institutions are…" description: "\"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbc/thomas-jefferson-43_accountability_i-believe-that-banking-institutions-are_608416.jpg" --- # I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to… ![“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbc/thomas-jefferson-43_accountability_i-believe-that-banking-institutions-are_608416.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbc/thomas-jefferson-43_accountability_i-believe-that-banking-institutions-are_608416.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbc/thomas-jefferson-43_accountability_i-believe-that-banking-institutions-are_608416.jpg) > “I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.” [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. Banks can threaten freedom more than armies because they control money and influence power. **In simple terms:** Banking may endanger liberty. Key Takeaway Guard against financial overreach. Themes politics freedom economics Mood cautious critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - financial regulation - public advocacy - education on money Key Concepts monetary power civil liberties institutional risk Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards protect liberty from financial power? - Can banks be reformed rather than opposed? A Different Perspective Banks also enable economic growth; not all banks are harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Banking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banking/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. Already they have raised up a moneyed aristocracy that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-believe-that-banking-institutions-are-more-dangerous-to-our-4/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. Already they have raised up a monied aristocracy that has set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goodwin/believe-that-banking-institutions-are-more-dangerous-to-our-liberties/) [Mark Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goodwin/) > [“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies." ---Thomas Jefferson”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-makow/i-believe-that-banking-institutions-are-more-dangerous-to-our/) [Henry Makow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-makow/) > [We are overdone with banking institutions, which have banished the precious metals, and substituted a more fluctuating and unsafe medium... These have withdrawn capital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-are-overdone-with-banking-institutions-which-have-banished-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“I sincerely believe the banking institutions having the issuing power of money, are more dangerous to liberty than standing armies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-sincerely-believe-the-banking-institutions-having-the-issuing-power/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency first by inflation then by deflation the banks and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-the-american-people-ever-allow-private-banks-to-control-the-issue-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The dominion which the banking institutions have obtained over the minds of our citizens...must be broken, or it will break us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-dominion-which-the-banking-institutions-have-obtained-over-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-that-banking-institutions-are-more-dangerous-to-our-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The communism of combined wealth and capital, the outgrown of overweening cupidity and selfishness which assiduously undermines the justice and integrity of free institutions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/the-communism-of-combined-wealth-and-capital-the-outgrown-of/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [Universities are not places where police can come and arrest people. Let the children have a discourse as they want to. They will learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-sibal/universities-are-not-places-where-police-can-come-and-arrest-people/) [Kapil Sibal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-sibal/) > [There is nothing with which it is so dangerous to take liberties as liberty itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-breton/there-is-nothing-with-which-it-is-so-dangerous-to-take-liberties-as/) [Andre Breton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-breton/) > [A standing army, however necessary it may be at some times, is always dangerous to the liberties of the people. Such power should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/a-standing-army-however-necessary-it-may-be-at-some-times-is-always/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [It is always dangerous to the liberties of the people to have an army stationed among them, over which they have no control ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/it-is-always-dangerous-to-the-liberties-of-the-people-to-have-an-army/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [They (the Jews) work more effectively against us, than the enemy's armies. They are a hundred times more dangerous to our liberties and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/they-the-jews-work-more-effectively-against-us-than-the-enemy-s/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [This tribe of black gentry work more effectually against us, than the enemy's arms. They are a hundred times more dangerous to our liberties,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/this-tribe-of-black-gentry-work-more-effectually-against-us-than-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) ## 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 Accountability quotes > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [Democracy is not being well served as we're accustomed to. There is less information, there's less investigation, there's less analysis, there's less accountability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-greenspon/democracy-is-not-being-well-served-as-we-re-accustomed-to-there-is/) Edward Greenspon > [I come from a world where accountability and accomplishments matter, and where titles and rhetoric take a back seat to results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-come-from-a-world-where-accountability-and-accomplishments-matter/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [It means a lot. It means I'm accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/it-means-a-lot-it-means-i-m-accountable/) [Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/) > [Our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to our god alone. I enquire after no man's and trouble none with mine;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-particular-principles-of-religion-are-a-subject-of-accountability/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [This strongly asserted but ill-defined license to kill without accountability is not an entitlement which the United States or other states can have without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-alston/this-strongly-asserted-but-ill-defined-license-to-kill-without/) Philip Alston > [Responsible Development shares many practices with XP but the roots are different. Responsible Development's values are honesty, transparency, accountability and responsibility. These lead me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-beck/responsible-development-shares-many-practices-with-xp-but-the-roots/) [Kent Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-beck/) > [“Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge… is empathy, for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bullard/opinion-is-really-the-lowest-form-of-human-knowledge-it-requires-no/) Bill Bullard > [The American people deserve accountability over wasteful spending, and we accomplish that by prioritizing taxpayer dollars in a responsive and responsible manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/the-american-people-deserve-accountability-over-wasteful-spending-and/) [Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [“There are many professions that require individuals, on an ongoing basis, to pass drug tests, physicals and psychological evaluations in order to keep their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hopkins/there-are-many-professions-that-require-individuals-on-an-ongoing/) [Gary Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hopkins/) > [“Expecting accountability from the UN system was akin to expecting a blind dog to catch a flying Frisbee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-soussan/expecting-accountability-from-the-un-system-was-akin-to-expecting-a/) Michael Soussan [Browse all 860 Accountability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-believe-that-banking-institutions-are-more-dangerous-to-our-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accountability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-believe-that-banking-institutions-are-more-dangerous-to-our-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbc/thomas-jefferson-43_accountability_i-believe-that-banking-institutions-are_608416.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbc/thomas-jefferson-43_accountability_i-believe-that-banking-institutions-are_608416.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbc/thomas-jefferson-43_accountability_i-believe-that-banking-institutions-are_608416.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.” — Thomas Jefferson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas Jefferson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I believe that banking institutions are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-believe-that-banking-institutions-are-more-dangerous-to-our-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-believe-that-banking-institutions-are-more-dangerous-to-our-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```