--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The legitimate powers of government…" description: "\"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/thomas-jefferson-43_atheism_the-legitimate-powers-of-government-exte_1873572.jpg" --- # The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts… ![“The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/thomas-jefferson-43_atheism_the-legitimate-powers-of-government-exte_1873572.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/thomas-jefferson-43_atheism_the-legitimate-powers-of-government-exte_1873572.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/thomas-jefferson-43_atheism_the-legitimate-powers-of-government-exte_1873572.jpg) > “The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” [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. Government should only intervene when actions harm others; personal beliefs about religion are private and non‑violent. **In simple terms:** State protects from harm, not belief. Key Takeaway Respect others’ freedoms while preventing harm. Themes government religion individual rights Mood thoughtful balanced Type philosophical political When to use this quote - public policy - court rulings - community standards - personal conduct Key Concepts liberalism non‑interference Questions to Reflect On - When does personal belief become a public issue? - How should societies handle religious intolerance? A Different Perspective Balancing free speech with public order can be contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Extend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extend/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Extend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-extend-912674/) [Injury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injury/) [Legitimate power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legitimate-power-105618/) [Legitimate Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legitimate-powers-912673/) [Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor/) [Pockets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pockets/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Powers Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powers-government-912676/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) ## Related quotes > [The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-legitimate-powers-of-government-extend-to-such-acts-only-as-are-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“The pretense that the workings of the mind, like the actions of the body, are subject to the control of laws, does not seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-pretense-that-the-workings-of-the-mind-like-the-actions-of-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as they are injurious to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-legitimate-powers-of-government-extend-to-such-acts-only-as-they/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[O\]ur rules can have authority over such natural rights only as we have submitted to them. The rights of conscience we never submitted, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/o-ur-rules-can-have-authority-over-such-natural-rights-only-as-we/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Our rulers can have authority over such natural rights only as we have submitted to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-rulers-can-have-authority-over-such-natural-rights-only-as-we/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The error seems not sufficiently eradicated, that the operations of the mind, as well as the acts of the body, are subject to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-error-seems-not-sufficiently-eradicated-that-the-operations-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The legislative powers of government reach actions only and not opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-legislative-powers-of-government-reach-actions-only-and-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Force does not constitute right... obedience is due only to legitimate powers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/force-does-not-constitute-right-obedience-is-due-only-to-legitimate/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/congress-shall-make-no-law-respecting-an-establishment-of-religion-or-3/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Respect for sovereignty means to not allow unconstitutional action and coup d'états, the removal of legitimate power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/respect-for-sovereignty-means-to-not-allow-unconstitutional-action/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Once the Afghan people vote and they choose their President with direct, secret ballot from all over the country, there will be a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/once-the-afghan-people-vote-and-they-choose-their-president-with/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [Every individual man has a bias which he must obey, and...it is only as he feels and obeys this that he rightly develops and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-individual-man-has-a-bias-which-he-must-obey-and-it-is-only-as/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Great power often corrupts virtue; it invariably renders vice more malignant. . . . In proportion as the powers of government increase, both its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-of-caroline/great-power-often-corrupts-virtue-it-invariably-renders-vice-more/) [John Taylor of Caroline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-of-caroline/) > [That the Powers of Government may be resumed by the People, whensoever it shall become necessary to their Happiness; that every Power, Jurisdiction and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-the-powers-of-government-may-be-resumed-by-the-people-whensoever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The people are the source of governmental power. Along with many religious people, Latter-day Saints affirm that God gave the power to the people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/the-people-are-the-source-of-governmental-power-along-with-many/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) ## 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 Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [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/) > [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/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? 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