--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Laws provide against injury from others…" description: "\"Laws provide against injury from others; but not from ourselves.\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/thomas-jefferson-43_democracies-have_laws-provide-against-injury-from-others_251704.jpg" --- # Laws provide against injury from others; but not from… ![“Laws provide against injury from others; but not from ourselves.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/thomas-jefferson-43_democracies-have_laws-provide-against-injury-from-others_251704.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/thomas-jefferson-43_democracies-have_laws-provide-against-injury-from-others_251704.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/thomas-jefferson-43_democracies-have_laws-provide-against-injury-from-others_251704.jpg) > “Laws provide against injury from others; but not from ourselves.” [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. Law protects against external harm but cannot prevent self‑inflicted damage. **In simple terms:** External laws can't stop self‑harm. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑awareness and personal responsibility. Themes responsibility self‑control law injury Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal health - financial decisions - relationship boundaries - mental health management Key Concepts ethics psychology autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How can you protect yourself from your own mistakes? - What habits reduce self‑inflicted harm? A Different Perspective Self‑control is often weaker than external enforcement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Drug laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug-laws/) [Drug prohibition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug-prohibition/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Injury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injury/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Limiting government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limiting-government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Prohibition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prohibition/) ## Related quotes > [The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. 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S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/those-who-torment-us-for-our-own-good-will-torment-us-without-end-for/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Democracies have been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and in general been as short in their lives as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/democracies-have-been-found-incompatible-with-personal-security-or/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Was the government to prescribe to us our medicine and diet, our bodies would be in such keeping as our souls are now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/was-the-government-to-prescribe-to-us-our-medicine-and-diet-our/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“There is very little truth in the old refrain that one cannot legislate equality. Laws not only provide concrete benefits, they can even change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-king/there-is-very-little-truth-in-the-old-refrain-that-one-cannot/) [Gilbert King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-king/) > [Laws provide, as much as ispossible that the goods and health of subjects be not injured by the fraud and violence of others. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/laws-provide-as-much-as-ispossible-that-the-goods-and-health-of/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [We have asylum laws that provide humanitarian relief. Those who qualify under those laws are entitled to the relief that we extend. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-have-asylum-laws-that-provide-humanitarian-relief-those-who/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [A country is in a bad state, which is governed only by laws; because a thousand things occur for which laws cannot provide, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-country-is-in-a-bad-state-which-is-governed-only-by-laws-because-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## 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 Democracies have quotes > [The spirit of democracy cannot be established in the midst of terrorism, whether governmental or popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-spirit-of-democracy-cannot-be-established-in-the-midst-of/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-strain-of-anti-intellectualism-has-been-a-constant-thread-winding/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [No democracy has ever long survived the failure of its adherents to be ready to die for it. My own conviction is this, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lloyd-george/no-democracy-has-ever-long-survived-the-failure-of-its-adherents-to/) [David Lloyd George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lloyd-george/) > [It is a law of governance that democracies have to spend themselves dizzy. Citizens of democracies can, after all, tell their government to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-is-a-law-of-governance-that-democracies-have-to-spend-themselves/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until a majority of voters discover that they can vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fraser-tytler/a-democracy-cannot-exist-as-a-permanent-form-of-government-it-can/) [Alexander Fraser Tytler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fraser-tytler/) > [A pure Democracy, by which I mean a Society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the Government in person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/a-pure-democracy-by-which-i-mean-a-society-consisting-of-a-small/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/many-forms-of-government-have-been-tried-and-will-be-tried-in-this/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Democracies have been, and governments called, free; but the spirit of independence and the consciousness of unalienable rights, were never before transfused into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-josepha-hale/democracies-have-been-and-governments-called-free-but-the-spirit-of/) [Sarah Josepha Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-josepha-hale/) > [For our democracy has been marred by imperialism, and it has been enlightened only by individual and sporadic efforts at freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-our-democracy-has-been-marred-by-imperialism-and-it-has-been/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [Democracy has many enemies, and the terrorist is only one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/democracy-has-many-enemies-and-the-terrorist-is-only-one-of-them/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/hence-it-is-that-such-democracies-have-ever-been-spectacles-of/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [In Cuba, our experiment is not the best democracy and should not be a reference to anybody elses, it is ours. It has worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-castro-espin/in-cuba-our-experiment-is-not-the-best-democracy-and-should-not-be-a/) [Alejandro Castro Espin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-castro-espin/) > [Democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves largesse out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fraser-tytler/democracy-cannot-exist-as-a-permanent-form-of-government-it-can-only/) [Alexander Fraser Tytler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fraser-tytler/) > [All deductions having been made, democracy has done less harm, and more good, than any other form of government. It gave to human existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/all-deductions-having-been-made-democracy-has-done-less-harm-and-more/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [Our democracy has been around far longer than European democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/our-democracy-has-been-around-far-longer-than-european-democracy/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) Browse all 123 Democracies have quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Laws provide against injury from others; but not from ourselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/laws-provide-against-injury-from-others-but-not-from-ourselves/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracies have" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/laws-provide-against-injury-from-others-but-not-from-ourselves/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/thomas-jefferson-43_democracies-have_laws-provide-against-injury-from-others_251704.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/thomas-jefferson-43_democracies-have_laws-provide-against-injury-from-others_251704.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/thomas-jefferson-43_democracies-have_laws-provide-against-injury-from-others_251704.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Laws provide against injury from others; but not from ourselves.” — 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": "Laws provide against injury from others;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/laws-provide-against-injury-from-others-but-not-from-ourselves/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/laws-provide-against-injury-from-others-but-not-from-ourselves/#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 } } ] } ```