--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My reason for fixing them in office for a…" description: "\"My reason for fixing them in office for a term of years, rather than for life, was that they might have an idea that they were at a certain period to r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/thomas-jefferson-43_alive_my-reason-for-fixing-them-in-office-for_3081625.jpg" --- # My reason for fixing them in office for a term of years… ![“My reason for fixing them in office for a term of years, rather than for life, was that they might have an idea that they were at a certain period to return into the mass of the people and become the governed instead of the governors which might still keep alive that regard to the public good that…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/thomas-jefferson-43_alive_my-reason-for-fixing-them-in-office-for_3081625.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/thomas-jefferson-43_alive_my-reason-for-fixing-them-in-office-for_3081625.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/thomas-jefferson-43_alive_my-reason-for-fixing-them-in-office-for_3081625.jpg) > “My reason for fixing them in office for a term of years, rather than for life, was that they might have an idea that they were at a certain period to return into the mass of the people and become the governed instead of the governors which might still keep alive that regard to the public good that otherwise they might perhaps be induced by their independence to forget.” [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. He argued officials should serve temporarily, not for life, to stay connected to the people. **In simple terms:** Officials need term limits to stay aligned with citizens. Key Takeaway Support term limits for public servants. Themes governance democracy accountability Mood thoughtful concerned Type philosophical political When to use this quote - elections - legislative reform - citizen engagement Key Concepts public good political theory Questions to Reflect On - Should term limits apply to all offices? - How to balance expertise and turnover? A Different Perspective Term limits can reduce experience continuity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Fixing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixing/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Governed Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governed-instead-5259367/) [Governors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governors/) [Governors Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governors-alive-5259368/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Instead Governors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead-governors-5259366/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Governed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-governed-848033/) [Periods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/periods/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Public good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-good/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Term limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term-limits/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [No person shall be capable of being a delegate for more than three years in any term of six.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/no-person-shall-be-capable-of-being-a-delegate-for-more-than-three/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I leave to others the sublime delights of riding in the storm, better pleased with sound sleep & a warmer berth below it encircled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-leave-to-others-the-sublime-delights-of-riding-in-the-storm-better/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The Governor would serve a five-year term and be ineligible for reelection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-governor-would-serve-a-five-year-term-and-be-ineligible-for/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I apprehend... that the total abandonment of the principle of rotation in the offices of President and Senator will end in abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-apprehend-that-the-total-abandonment-of-the-principle-of-rotation/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“The fantastical idea of virtue and the public good being a sufficient security to the state against the commission of crimes...was never mine. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-fantastical-idea-of-virtue-and-the-public-good-being-a-sufficient-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Both of our political parties, at least the honest portion of them, agree conscientiously in the same object: the public good; but they differ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/both-of-our-political-parties-at-least-the-honest-portion-of-them/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The fantastical idea of virtue and the public good being a sufficient security to the state against the commission of crimes, which you say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-fantastical-idea-of-virtue-and-the-public-good-being-a-sufficient/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ It would not be for the public good to have \[a majority in Congress of one party\] greater \[than\] two to one. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-would-not-be-for-the-public-good-to-have-a-majority-in-congress-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“A free people should be governed by law and not by the whims of men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-cleon-skousen/a-free-people-should-be-governed-by-law-and-not-by-the-whims-of-men/) [W. Cleon Skousen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-cleon-skousen/) > [People are governed with the head; kindness of heart is little use in chess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/people-are-governed-with-the-head-kindness-of-heart-is-little-use-in/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [It takes very little to govern good people. Very little. And bad people cant be governed at all. Or if they could I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/it-takes-very-little-to-govern-good-people-very-little-and-bad-people/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“It is important for all of us to understand that free people are not governed by rules. Here at Hillsdale we are governed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-p-arnn/it-is-important-for-all-of-us-to-understand-that-free-people-are-not/) [Larry P. Arnn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-p-arnn/) > [My faith in the people governing is, on the whole, infinitesimal; my faith in the people governed is, on the whole, illimitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/my-faith-in-the-people-governing-is-on-the-whole-infinitesimal-my/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [It has always seemed to me that the social order was implicit in the very nature of things, and required nothing more from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-antoine-de-saint-just/it-has-always-seemed-to-me-that-the-social-order-was-implicit-in-the/) [Louis Antoine de Saint-Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-antoine-de-saint-just/) > [In a democratic set-up, people who are being governed should also be a part of the governing system. They should be drafted into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajyavardhan-singh-rathore/in-a-democratic-set-up-people-who-are-being-governed-should-also-be-a/) [Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajyavardhan-singh-rathore/) ## 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 Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My reason for fixing them in office for a term of years, rather than for life, was that they might have an idea that they were at a certain period to return into the mass of the people and become the governed instead of the governors which might still keep alive that regard to the public good that otherwise they might perhaps be induced by their independence to forget.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-reason-for-fixing-them-in-office-for-a-term-of-years-rather-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-reason-for-fixing-them-in-office-for-a-term-of-years-rather-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/thomas-jefferson-43_alive_my-reason-for-fixing-them-in-office-for_3081625.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/thomas-jefferson-43_alive_my-reason-for-fixing-them-in-office-for_3081625.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/thomas-jefferson-43_alive_my-reason-for-fixing-them-in-office-for_3081625.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My reason for fixing them in office for a term of years, rather than for life, was that they might have an…” — 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": "My reason for fixing them in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-reason-for-fixing-them-in-office-for-a-term-of-years-rather-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-reason-for-fixing-them-in-office-for-a-term-of-years-rather-than/#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 } } ] } ```