--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only greater [evil] than…" description: "\"The only greater [evil] than separation... [is] living under a government of discretion.\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/thomas-jefferson-43_discretion_the-only-greater-evil-than-separation-is_3151926.jpg" --- # The only greater \[evil\] than separation... \[is\] living… ![“The only greater [evil] than separation... [is] living under a government of discretion.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/thomas-jefferson-43_discretion_the-only-greater-evil-than-separation-is_3151926.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/thomas-jefferson-43_discretion_the-only-greater-evil-than-separation-is_3151926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/thomas-jefferson-43_discretion_the-only-greater-evil-than-separation-is_3151926.jpg) > “The only greater \[evil\] than separation... \[is\] living under a government of discretion.” [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. The worst evil is a government that hides truth and controls people through secrecy. **In simple terms:** Secretive governments are harmful. Key Takeaway Demand transparency and accountability. Themes freedom government secrecy Mood cautious critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - activism - journalism - voting - public policy Key Concepts political philosophy civil liberty Questions to Reflect On - How does secrecy erode trust? - When is secrecy acceptable? A Different Perspective Secrecy can be justified as protecting national security. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discretion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discretion/) [Divorce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divorce/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) ## Related quotes > [“Estella, to the last hour of my life, you cannot choose but remain part of my character, part of the little good in me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/estella-to-the-last-hour-of-my-life-you-cannot-choose-but-remain-part/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The false separation between living and giving must end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/the-false-separation-between-living-and-giving-must-end/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [ “The interrogation and banter \[with the IRS auditor\] went on until lunch. In the process, Clark learned a valuable lesson that all Americans figure… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-gilleo/the-interrogation-and-banter-with-the-irs-auditor-went-on-until-lunch/) Mark Gilleo > [The government created by this compact was not made the exclusive or final judge of the extent of the powers delegated to itself; since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-government-created-by-this-compact-was-not-made-the-exclusive-or/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Scenes are now to take place as will open the eyes of credulity and of insanity itself, to the dangers of a paper medium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/scenes-are-now-to-take-place-as-will-open-the-eyes-of-credulity-and/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-know-of-no-safe-depository-of-the-ultimate-powers-of-the-society/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I know of no safe depository of the ultimate power of the society but the people themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-know-of-no-safe-depository-of-the-ultimate-power-of-the-society-but/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Truly it is an evil to be full of faults; but it is a still greater evil to be full of them and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/truly-it-is-an-evil-to-be-full-of-faults-but-it-is-a-still-greater/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [It is impossible to introduce into society a greater change and a greater evil than this: the conversion of the law into an instrument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/it-is-impossible-to-introduce-into-society-a-greater-change-and-a/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [The greater evil who is in- When both in wayward paths are straying? The poor sinner for the pain Or he who pays for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greater-evil-who-is-in-when-both-in-wayward-paths-are-straying/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To defeat evil, I must become a greater evil”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lelouch-vi-britannia/to-defeat-evil-i-must-become-a-greater-evil/) [Lelouch Vi Britannia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lelouch-vi-britannia/) > [There is no greater evil for men than the constraint of fortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/there-is-no-greater-evil-for-men-than-the-constraint-of-fortune/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [What greater evil could you wish a miser, than long life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-greater-evil-could-you-wish-a-miser-than-long-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fear is a greater evil than evil itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/fear-is-a-greater-evil-than-evil-itself/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [For the lesser evil is reckoned a good in comparison with the greater evil, since the lesser evil is rather to be chosen than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/for-the-lesser-evil-is-reckoned-a-good-in-comparison-with-the-greater/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) ## 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 Discretion quotes > [The policeman on the beat or in the patrol car makes more decisions and exercises broader discretion affecting the daily lives of people every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-policeman-on-the-beat-or-in-the-patrol-car-makes-more-decisions/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [Aishwarya, my parent's daughter, has been brought up with enough values inculcated where I will use my discretion in my choices. At the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-rai-bachchan/aishwarya-my-parent-s-daughter-has-been-brought-up-with-enough-values/) [Aishwarya Rai Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-rai-bachchan/) > [The fleet sailed to its war base in the North Sea, headed not so much for some rendezvous with glory as for rendezvous with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/the-fleet-sailed-to-its-war-base-in-the-north-sea-headed-not-so-much/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [“All sexual activity performed is at the discretion of the participants and is confined to only one hour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-a-miles/all-sexual-activity-performed-is-at-the-discretion-of-the/) Karen A.Miles > [The first principle of solid wisdom is discretion, without it all the erudition of life is merely bagatelle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-first-principle-of-solid-wisdom-is-discretion-without-it-all-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [ Forgiveness is the best part of valor...Discretion is easy. It's finding the courage to forgive yourself and others that is hard. \[Acheron\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/forgiveness-is-the-best-part-of-valor-discretion-is-easy-it-s-finding/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Instead of a perpetual and perfect measure of the divine will, the fragments of the Koran were produced at the discretion of Mahomet; each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/instead-of-a-perpetual-and-perfect-measure-of-the-divine-will-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [“Commonality & Camaraderie. By identifying, developing, and connecting powerful points of reference to others, you will have a rich resource of information from which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/commonality-camaraderie-by-identifying-developing-and-connecting/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [We lay aside letters never to read them again, and at last we destroy them out discretion, and so disappears the most immediate breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-lay-aside-letters-never-to-read-them-again-and-at-last-we-destroy/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Drunkenness is the very sepulcher Of man's wit and his discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/drunkenness-is-the-very-sepulcher-of-man-s-wit-and-his-discretion/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Great is our admiration of the orator who speaks with fluency and discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/great-is-our-admiration-of-the-orator-who-speaks-with-fluency-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Be not too tame neither, but let your own Discretion be your tutor; suit the action to the word, the word to the action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/be-not-too-tame-neither-but-let-your-own-discretion-be-your-tutor/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O sir, you are old; nature in you stands on the very verge of her confine; you should be ruled and led by some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-sir-you-are-old-nature-in-you-stands-on-the-very-verge-of-her/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I have tales to tell, but I don't tell them. Discretion. Discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-peck/i-have-tales-to-tell-but-i-don-t-tell-them-discretion-discretion/) [Gregory Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-peck/) > [When you learn to discipline your tongue, you'll stop scrutinizing, judging and condemning others. You'll then focus on your own weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mufti-ismail-menk/when-you-learn-to-discipline-your-tongue-you-ll-stop-scrutinizing/) [Mufti Ismail Menk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mufti-ismail-menk/) [Browse all 364 Discretion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discretion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only greater [evil] than separation... 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