--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We may say with truth and meaning, that…" description: "\"We may say with truth and meaning, that governments are more or less republican, as they have more or less of the element of popular election and contr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/thomas-jefferson-43_agents_we-may-say-with-truth-and-meaning-that-g_1401924.jpg" --- # We may say with truth and meaning, that governments are… ![“We may say with truth and meaning, that governments are more or less republican, as they have more or less of the element of popular election and control in their composition; and believing as I do, that the mass of the citizens is the safest depository of their own rights and especially that the…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/thomas-jefferson-43_agents_we-may-say-with-truth-and-meaning-that-g_1401924.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/thomas-jefferson-43_agents_we-may-say-with-truth-and-meaning-that-g_1401924.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/thomas-jefferson-43_agents_we-may-say-with-truth-and-meaning-that-g_1401924.jpg) > “We may say with truth and meaning, that governments are more or less republican, as they have more or less of the element of popular election and control in their composition; and believing as I do, that the mass of the citizens is the safest depository of their own rights and especially that the evils flowing from the duperies of the people are less injurious than those from the egoism of their agents, I am a friend to that composition of government which has in it the most of this ingredient.” [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 argues that a government with strong popular election and control is safest, as citizens are better custodians of rights than self‑interested officials. **In simple terms:** Popular control makes government safer than self‑interested officials. Key Takeaway Support democratic participation. Themes politics democracy citizen rights government legitimacy Mood reflective concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - policy making - civic education - public discourse Key Concepts republicanism social contract Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance popular control with effective governance? - What safeguards prevent majority tyranny? A Different Perspective Too much reliance on popular will can lead to instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agents/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Composition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composition/) [Composition Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composition-government-870214/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Egoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egoism/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Governments Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments-republican-4916069/) [Ingredients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ingredients/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Meaning Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-governments-4916070/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Republican Element](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican-element-670247/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [My most earnest wish is to see the republican element of popular control pushed to the maximum of its practicable exercise. 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