--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If virtuous, the government need not fear…" description: "\"If virtuous, the government need not fear the fair operation of attack and defense. Nature has given to man no other means of sifting the truth, either..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2c/thomas-jefferson-43_defense_if-virtuous-the-government-need-not-fear_1353012.jpg" --- # If virtuous, the government need not fear the fair… ![“If virtuous, the government need not fear the fair operation of attack and defense. Nature has given to man no other means of sifting the truth, either in religion, law, or politics.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2c/thomas-jefferson-43_defense_if-virtuous-the-government-need-not-fear_1353012.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2c/thomas-jefferson-43_defense_if-virtuous-the-government-need-not-fear_1353012.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2c/thomas-jefferson-43_defense_if-virtuous-the-government-need-not-fear_1353012.jpg) > “If virtuous, the government need not fear the fair operation of attack and defense. Nature has given to man no other means of sifting the truth, either in religion, law, or politics.” [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 virtuous government need not fear scrutiny because truth is revealed through natural checks in religion, law, and politics. **In simple terms:** Good government is transparent and self‑checking. Key Takeaway Cultivate integrity in public institutions. Themes integrity transparency accountability Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - legislative oversight - judicial review - public discourse - media scrutiny Key Concepts natural law checks and balances Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens ensure leaders remain virtuous? - What mechanisms best reveal truth? A Different Perspective Even virtuous governments can be challenged by entrenched interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [In a virtuous government, and more especially in times like these, public offices are what they should be - burdens to those appointed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/in-a-virtuous-government-and-more-especially-in-times-like-these/) [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/) > [Society is an artificial construction, a defense against nature's power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/society-is-an-artificial-construction-a-defense-against-nature-s-power/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [“That the Earth now desperately needs defense from impending environmental catastrophe is surely obvious to any rational and literate person. The different reactions to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/that-the-earth-now-desperately-needs-defense-from-impending/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Self-defense is Nature's eldest law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/self-defense-is-nature-s-eldest-law/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [If the Wise be the happy man... he must be virtuous too; for, without virtue, happiness cannot be. This then is the true scope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-the-wise-be-the-happy-man-he-must-be-virtuous-too-for-without/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In a virtuous and free state, no rewards can be so pleasing to sensible minds, as those which include the approbation of our fellow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/in-a-virtuous-and-free-state-no-rewards-can-be-so-pleasing-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The spirit of 1776 is not dead. It has only been slumbering. The body of the American people is substantially republican. But their virtuous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-spirit-of-1776-is-not-dead-it-has-only-been-slumbering-the-body/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independant, the most virtuous, and they are tied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/cultivators-of-the-earth-are-the-most-valuable-citizens-they-are-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I think our governments will remain virtuous for many centuries; as long as they are chiefly agricultural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-think-our-governments-will-remain-virtuous-for-many-centuries-as/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Whatever we do from government, we need to do what's best for America. If we do that, that's bringing power back to the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-yoho/whatever-we-do-from-government-we-need-to-do-what-s-best-for-america/) [Ted Yoho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-yoho/) > [There's a million things wrong with government that need to get fixed, but none of its ever going to get fixed unless we start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-harrison/there-s-a-million-things-wrong-with-government-that-need-to-get-fixed/) [Rick Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-harrison/) > [Government cannot do everything, so we need to first decide what government ought to be doing, then figure out what it's capable of doing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-fletcher/government-cannot-do-everything-so-we-need-to-first-decide-what/) [Ernie Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-fletcher/) > [Building sustainable cities - and a sustainable future - will need open dialogue among all branches of national, regional and local government. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/building-sustainable-cities-and-a-sustainable-future-will-need-open/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [You wouldn't want to underestimate the perfidy of the government. I have no doubt that the government will need to increase revenues substantially to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/porter-stansberry/you-wouldn-t-want-to-underestimate-the-perfidy-of-the-government-i/) [Porter Stansberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/porter-stansberry/) ## 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 Defense quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [My last defense / Is the present tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendolyn-brooks/my-last-defense-is-the-present-tense/) [Gwendolyn Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendolyn-brooks/) > [Football is not just all about throwing the ball. You got to run the ball, too. Defense has to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/football-is-not-just-all-about-throwing-the-ball-you-got-to-run-the/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/witness-for-the-defense-albus-percival-wulfric-brian-dumbledore/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You say I have a bad attitude. But have you ever stopped to check yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-marie/you-say-i-have-a-bad-attitude-but-have-you-ever-stopped-to-check-yours/) Tasha Marie > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [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/) > [He should release the tax returns tomorrow. It's crazy. You've got to release six, eight, ten years back tax returns. Take the hit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/he-should-release-the-tax-returns-tomorrow-it-s-crazy-you-ve-got-to/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [When you shoot someone who is fleeing, it's not self-defense. It's an execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-shoot-someone-who-is-fleeing-it-s-not-self-defense-it-s-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) Browse all 2,426 Defense quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If virtuous, the government need not fear the fair operation of attack and defense. 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