--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some are whigs, liberals, democrats, call…" description: "\"“Some are whigs, liberals, democrats, call them what you please. Others are tories, serviles, aristocrats, &c. The latter fear the people, and wish to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caa/thomas-jefferson-43_last-resort_some-are-whigs-liberals-democrats-call-t_2039095.jpg" --- # Some are whigs, liberals, democrats, call them what you… ![“Some are whigs, liberals, democrats, call them what you please. Others are tories, serviles, aristocrats, &c. The latter fear the people, and wish to transfer all power to the higher classes of society; the former consider the people as the safest depository of power in the last resort; they…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caa/thomas-jefferson-43_last-resort_some-are-whigs-liberals-democrats-call-t_2039095.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caa/thomas-jefferson-43_last-resort_some-are-whigs-liberals-democrats-call-t_2039095.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caa/thomas-jefferson-43_last-resort_some-are-whigs-liberals-democrats-call-t_2039095.jpg) > ““Some are whigs, liberals, democrats, call them what you please. Others are tories, serviles, aristocrats, &c. The latter fear the people, and wish to transfer all power to the higher classes of society; the former consider the people as the safest depository of power in the last resort; they cherish them therefore, and wish to leave in them all the powers to the exercise of which they are competent.”” [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. Jefferson contrasts two political philosophies: one that trusts the people with power, and another that seeks to concentrate power among elites. **In simple terms:** People vs elite power views Key Takeaway Value popular sovereignty Themes politics democracy elitism Mood critical reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - voting - civic education - policy advocacy - public debate Key Concepts social contract representation class conflict Questions to Reflect On - How does trust in the people shape institutions? - What safeguards prevent elite dominance? A Different Perspective Elite power can become entrenched despite popular support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aristocrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocrats/) [Aristocrats Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocrats-fear-1818049/) [Last resort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-resort/) [Serviles Aristocrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serviles-aristocrats-3784430/) [Whigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whigs/) [Whigs Liberals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whigs-liberals-3784429/) ## Related quotes > [Aristocrats fear the people, and wish to transfer all power to the higher classes of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/aristocrats-fear-the-people-and-wish-to-transfer-all-power-to-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Remember that Abraham Lincoln was a Whig far longer than he was a Republican. As a whole, the Whigs looked upon banks and corporations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/remember-that-abraham-lincoln-was-a-whig-far-longer-than-he-was-a/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [The Whig interpretation of history ... is the tendency in many historians to write on the side of Protestants and Whigs, to praise revolutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-butterfield/the-whig-interpretation-of-history-is-the-tendency-in-many-historians/) [Herbert Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-butterfield/) > [“Sumner’s entrance into the Senate was into the midst of a hostile camp. On either side of the chamber enemies confronted him. Southern Whigs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-henry-grimke/sumner-s-entrance-into-the-senate-was-into-the-midst-of-a-hostile/) [Archibald Henry Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-henry-grimke/) > [“ Tickler : I hate novelties. Is the prosecution mania about to subside, think you? Now-a-days, every word is said to be actionable. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilson/tickler-i-hate-novelties-is-the-prosecution-mania-about-to-subside/) [John Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilson/) > [ The right hon. Gentleman \[Sir Robert Peel\] caught the Whigs bathing, and walked away with their clothes. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-right-hon-gentleman-sir-robert-peel-caught-the-whigs-bathing-and/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [We certainly cannot have any further political connection with the Whigs of the South; they have rendered such connection impossible. An impassable gulf separates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-f-wade/we-certainly-cannot-have-any-further-political-connection-with-the/) [Benjamin F. Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-f-wade/) > [I was excited when the Afghan Whigs got back together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lanegan/i-was-excited-when-the-afghan-whigs-got-back-together/) [Mark Lanegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lanegan/) > [“The right-wing Tories and the conservative Whigs fought Napoleon as the Usurper and the Enemy of the Established Order; the liberal Tories and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-christopher-herold/the-right-wing-tories-and-the-conservative-whigs-fought-napoleon-as/) [J. Christopher Herold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-christopher-herold/) > [The right honourable gentleman caught the Whigs bathing, and walked away with their clothes. He has left them in the full enjoyment of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-right-honourable-gentleman-caught-the-whigs-bathing-and-walked/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [In former days, when there were Whigs instead of Liberals, it was almost a rule of political life that all leading Whigs sould be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/in-former-days-when-there-were-whigs-instead-of-liberals-it-was/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [“True the greater part of the Irish people was close to starvation. The numbers of weakened people dying from disease were rising. So few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-rutherfurd/true-the-greater-part-of-the-irish-people-was-close-to-starvation-the/) [Edward Rutherfurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-rutherfurd/) > [“Bleeding Kansas and the Caning of Charles Sumner   The reaction to the Kansas-Nebraska Act was intense, and in many ways violent. In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-t-stewart/bleeding-kansas-and-the-caning-of-charles-sumner-the-reaction-to-the/) [Lance T. Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-t-stewart/) > [I have written on all sorts of subjects... yet I have no enemies; except indeed all the Whigs, all the Tories, and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/i-have-written-on-all-sorts-of-subjects-yet-i-have-no-enemies-except/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Triumphant Tories, and desponding Whigs, Forget their feuds, and join to save their wigs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/triumphant-tories-and-desponding-whigs-forget-their-feuds-and-join-to/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) ## 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 Aristocrats quotes > [Women are aristocrats, and it is always the mother who makes us feel that we belong to the better sort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/women-are-aristocrats-and-it-is-always-the-mother-who-makes-us-feel/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [When aristocrats pretend they're common people -- they get common!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/when-aristocrats-pretend-they-re-common-people-they-get-common/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [ “As a young man he seemed to pine for a bygone world of aristocrats. \[In his twenties, he\] took to wearing Edwardian three-piece suits… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wallace/as-a-young-man-he-seemed-to-pine-for-a-bygone-world-of-aristocrats-in/) [Benjamin Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wallace/) > [Aristocrats fear the people, and wish to transfer all power to the higher classes of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/aristocrats-fear-the-people-and-wish-to-transfer-all-power-to-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“The emancipation of women was destined to follow that of the slaves and the glorification of people without a caste and without traditions, namely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-evola/the-emancipation-of-women-was-destined-to-follow-that-of-the-slaves/) [Julius Evola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-evola/) > [“The aristocrats had to force them to do their jobs. After all, human beings are not badgers. We aren't molded to stoop.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-rimas-evan-d-g-fraser/the-aristocrats-had-to-force-them-to-do-their-jobs-after-all-human/) [Andrew Rimas Evan D.G. Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-rimas-evan-d-g-fraser/) > [Now people want what the movie was about, which is violent comedy. And that's really what The Aristocrats is based on - what will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-saget/now-people-want-what-the-movie-was-about-which-is-violent-comedy-and/) [Bob Saget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-saget/) > [ “\[...\] Just because a person has a title doesn't make him an aristocrat. Some people are great aristocrats who have no other title than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/just-because-a-person-has-a-title-doesn-t-make-him-an-aristocrat-some/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“Of course all that these young bourgeois really wanted was to be aristocrats. They bought titles, married into aristocratic families whenever they could. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/of-course-all-that-these-young-bourgeois-really-wanted-was-to-be/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [“All rebels are closet aristocrats.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/all-rebels-are-closet-aristocrats/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [If the rabble were lopped off at one end and the aristocrats at the other, all would be well with the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-johnson/if-the-rabble-were-lopped-off-at-one-end-and-the-aristocrats-at-the/) [Andrew Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-johnson/) > [The aristocrats and bureaucrats are dirty rats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-davies/the-aristocrats-and-bureaucrats-are-dirty-rats/) [Ray Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-davies/) > [“He turned from the daughters of minor aristocrats to those of farriers, farmers and foresters. Personally he couldn't tell the difference, yet the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/he-turned-from-the-daughters-of-minor-aristocrats-to-those-of/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [I was born trash in a land where the people all believe themselves natural aristocrats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-was-born-trash-in-a-land-where-the-people-all-believe-themselves/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [That's how the Germans are… The aristocrats at the top hard as glass, cold as ice, servants of the King, the working masses willing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-doblin/that-s-how-the-germans-are-the-aristocrats-at-the-top-hard-as-glass/) [Alfred Doblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-doblin/) [Browse all 52 Aristocrats quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocrats/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Some are whigs, liberals, democrats, call them what you please. 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