--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let our countrymen know that the people…" description: "\"Let our countrymen know that the people alone can protect us against these evils of misgovernment.\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/thomas-jefferson-43_countrymen_let-our-countrymen-know-that-the-people_3101231.jpg" --- # Let our countrymen know that the people alone can protect… ![“Let our countrymen know that the people alone can protect us against these evils of misgovernment.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/thomas-jefferson-43_countrymen_let-our-countrymen-know-that-the-people_3101231.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/thomas-jefferson-43_countrymen_let-our-countrymen-know-that-the-people_3101231.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/thomas-jefferson-43_countrymen_let-our-countrymen-know-that-the-people_3101231.jpg) > “Let our countrymen know that the people alone can protect us against these evils of misgovernment.” [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. Citizens alone can safeguard liberty against corrupt governance. **In simple terms:** People protect against bad government. Key Takeaway Engage in civic participation. Themes citizenship government liberty Mood determined patriotic Type political historical When to use this quote - voting - community organizing - public discourse - watchdog activism Key Concepts political theory civic duty Questions to Reflect On - What actions can you take to protect liberty? - How can citizens stay informed? A Different Perspective Government power can still dominate without vigilance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Countrymen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countrymen/) [Countrymen Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countrymen-know-1687038/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evils Misgovernment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evils-misgovernment-5375855/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Let Countrymen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-countrymen-3098056/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-protect-583625/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Protect Evils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect-evils-2954426/) ## Related quotes > [“How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/how-little-do-my-countrymen-know-what-precious-blessings-they-are-in/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-god-how-little-do-my-countrymen-know-what-precious-blessings-they/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Mix with the noble people, you become one of them; and keep away from evil people to protect yourself from their evils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mix-with-the-noble-people-you-become-one-of-them-and-keep-away-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The thoughts of great men are the common heritage of humanity and let our countrymen receive inspiration and guidance from these thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-puran-singh/the-thoughts-of-great-men-are-the-common-heritage-of-humanity-and-let/) [Bhagat Puran Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-puran-singh/) > [It is not right, my fellow-countrymen, you who know very well all the crimes committed in our name. It's not at all right that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/it-is-not-right-my-fellow-countrymen-you-who-know-very-well-all-the/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [I hope that on Veterans Day people think about those who protect us from the evils out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-murray/i-hope-that-on-veterans-day-people-think-about-those-who-protect-us/) [Sean Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-murray/) > [“My knight may not wear a coat of shining armor, but his code of glowing honor will never fail to protect us both from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/my-knight-may-not-wear-a-coat-of-shining-armor-but-his-code-of/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Stock dealers and banking companies, by the aid of a paper system, are enriching themselves to the ruin of our country, and swaying the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/stock-dealers-and-banking-companies-by-the-aid-of-a-paper-system-are/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The steady character of our countrymen is a rock to which we may safely moor; and notwithstanding the efforts of the papers to disseminate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-steady-character-of-our-countrymen-is-a-rock-to-which-we-may/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [My confidence is that there will for a long time be virtue and good sense enough in our countrymen to correct abuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-confidence-is-that-there-will-for-a-long-time-be-virtue-and-good/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [You see I am an enthusiast on the subject of the arts. But it is an enthusiasm of which I am not ashamed, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/you-see-i-am-an-enthusiast-on-the-subject-of-the-arts-but-it-is-an/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I sincerely wish you may find it convenient to come here. the pleasure of the trip will be less than you expect, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-sincerely-wish-you-may-find-it-convenient-to-come-here-the-pleasure/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“If you’re a boss, understand these two patterns and allow people to protect their peak”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/if-you-re-a-boss-understand-these-two-patterns-and-allow-people-to/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [I am strong because I have people to protect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naruto-uzumaki/i-am-strong-because-i-have-people-to-protect/) [Naruto Uzumaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naruto-uzumaki/) > [Our people are ebbing away like a rapidly receding tide that will never return. The white man's God cannot love our people, or He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-seattle/our-people-are-ebbing-away-like-a-rapidly-receding-tide-that-will/) [Chief Seattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-seattle/) ## 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 Countrymen quotes > [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [The institutions under which we live, my countrymen, secure each person in the perfect enjoyment of all his rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tyler/the-institutions-under-which-we-live-my-countrymen-secure-each-person/) [John Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tyler/) > [As a Nobel Prize winner I cannot but regret that the award was never given to Mark Twain, nor to Henry James, speaking only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/as-a-nobel-prize-winner-i-cannot-but-regret-that-the-award-was-never/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [It would be a tragic mistake for us out here to imagine that Bush represents the hearts and the minds of the majority of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breyten-breytenbach/it-would-be-a-tragic-mistake-for-us-out-here-to-imagine-that-bush/) [Breyten Breytenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breyten-breytenbach/) > [Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/crouch-down-and-lick-the-hands-which-feed-you-may-your-chains-sit/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [There still remains one effort of magnanimity, one sacrifice of prejudice and passion, to be made by the individuals throughout the nation who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/there-still-remains-one-effort-of-magnanimity-one-sacrifice-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [One of his officers, Henry Lee, summed up contemporary public opinion of Washington: First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/one-of-his-officers-henry-lee-summed-up-contemporary-public-opinion/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [While only one day of the year is dedicated solely to honoring our veterans, Americans must never forget the sacrifices that many of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-neugebauer/while-only-one-day-of-the-year-is-dedicated-solely-to-honoring-our/) [Randy Neugebauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-neugebauer/) > [ \[Grew up in Hawaii\] that gave \[Barack Obama\] a kind of optimism, an ability to see things, you know, and frankly, an ability to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/grew-up-in-hawaii-that-gave-barack-obama-a-kind-of-optimism-an/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [My countrymen should have nerves of steel, muscles of iron, and minds like thunderbolt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/my-countrymen-should-have-nerves-of-steel-muscles-of-iron-and-minds/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“At a certain time in our existential experience, we must just not want better for ourselves, but for our country and the success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-johnson-jr/at-a-certain-time-in-our-existential-experience-we-must-just-not-want/) [Henry Johnson Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-johnson-jr/) > [To be a good patriot, a man must consider his countrymen as God's creatures, and himself as accountable for his acting towards them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-berkeley/to-be-a-good-patriot-a-man-must-consider-his-countrymen-as-god-s/) [George Berkeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-berkeley/) > [Those who visit foreign nations, but who associate only with their own countrymen, change their climate, but not their customs 'caelum non animum mutant':…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/those-who-visit-foreign-nations-but-who-associate-only-with-their-own/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [In Lincoln's day a President's religion was a very private affair. There were no public prayer meetings, no attempts to woo the Religious Right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-herbert-donald/in-lincoln-s-day-a-president-s-religion-was-a-very-private-affair/) [David Herbert Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-herbert-donald/) > [I congratulate you, my brave countrymen and fellow soldiers, on the spirit and success with which you have executed this important part of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolfe/i-congratulate-you-my-brave-countrymen-and-fellow-soldiers-on-the/) [James Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolfe/) [Browse all 192 Countrymen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countrymen/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let our countrymen know that the people alone can protect us against these evils of misgovernment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/let-our-countrymen-know-that-the-people-alone-can-protect-us-against/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Countrymen" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/let-our-countrymen-know-that-the-people-alone-can-protect-us-against/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/thomas-jefferson-43_countrymen_let-our-countrymen-know-that-the-people_3101231.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/thomas-jefferson-43_countrymen_let-our-countrymen-know-that-the-people_3101231.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/thomas-jefferson-43_countrymen_let-our-countrymen-know-that-the-people_3101231.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let our countrymen know that the people alone can protect us against these evils of misgovernment.” — 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": "Let our countrymen know that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/let-our-countrymen-know-that-the-people-alone-can-protect-us-against/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/let-our-countrymen-know-that-the-people-alone-can-protect-us-against/#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 } } ] } ```