We have government by the majority who participate.– Thomas Jefferson, 21. Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The chief purpose of government is to protect life. CONSTITUTION (AS A COMPACT) When two parties make a compact, there results to each a power of compelling the other to execute it. 24 talking about this. The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.– Thomas Jefferson, 14. 1955). That government is best which governs the least because its people discipline themselves.– Thomas Jefferson, 13. Disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes.– Thomas Jefferson, 15. “I’m a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it” … Top 100 Thomas Jefferson Quotes 1. (Letter to Edward Carrington, Paris, August 4, 1787). To download the special collection of over 400 quotations, see the option at the end of the Table of Contents. Origins: Notes on the State of Virginia was the only full-length book by Thomas Jefferson which was published during his lifetime. Abandon that and you have abandoned all. Quotable Jefferson; Bartleby.com: Quotations; Earliest known appearance in print: 20041 2. Thomas Jefferson. The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Was the government to prescribe us our medicine and diet, our bodies would be in such keeping as our souls are now.– Thomas Jefferson, 20. Brainy Stand Style. (Do you even read people's responses?) Top 20 quotes on Government 1. Thomas Jefferson Every people may establish what form of government they please, and change it as they please, the will of the nation being the only thing essential. In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. Thomas Jefferson quotes to enlighten. It is error alone which needs the support of the government. History proves that Thomas Jefferson believed in the Christian God – Who he believed was mighty above all else. Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.– Thomas Jefferson, 12. When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.– Thomas Jefferson, 24. God Fear Justice. These quotes are especially useful for writing and speaking. We in America do not have government by the majority. Thomas Jefferson's involvement with and support of education is best known through his founding of the University of Virginia, which he established in 1819 as a secular institution after he left the presidency of the United States.Jefferson believed that libraries and books were so integral to individual and institutional … We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.âThat to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.– Thomas Jefferson, 26. We should remember Adam's advocacy of the rights, or property, that is the content of our liberty and whose defense is the central reason our government was instituted. The most famous and perhaps most eloquent expression of a peopleâs right to âdissolve the political bandsâ which tie them together was penned by Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) in the Declaration of Independence: When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Natureâs God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separationâ¦. - Thomas Jefferson another, w ic S a eave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits. their own blood was spilt in acquiring lands for their settlement, their own fortunes … Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors. If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.– Thomas Jefferson, 7. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world. Laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the general progress of the human mind.– Thomas Jefferson, 9. – Thomas Jefferson. If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects … Jefferson on the right to change one’s government (1776) The most famous and perhaps most eloquent expression of a people’s right to “dissolve the political bands” which tie them together was penned by Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) in the Declaration of Independence: When in the Course of human events, it becomes … A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse,or rest on inference.– Thomas Jefferson, 2. Thomas Jefferson. To take care of the people then itâs to take care of the Nation. April 1770] [Quote] Under the law of nature, all men are born free, every one comes into the world with a right to his own person, which includes the liberty of moving and using it at his own will. Never trouble another for what you can do for yourself. John Adams, who has become “virtually an asterisk in history books today,” in one writer’s words, is inadequately celebrated. 11 wise and frugal Government, wllicll shall restrain men rom injuring one. In spite of these restrictions Jefferson obviously thought both conditions had been satisfied by July 1776 and that this therefore established the right to revolution on the part of the American colonists. Copyright ©2003 â 2021, When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.– Thomas Jefferson, 25. Collection of sourced quotations by Thomas Jefferson on government (Page 4). 1. An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens.– Thomas Jefferson, 3. Thomas Jefferson Quotes on Law and Government “The true foundation of republican government is the equal right of every citizen in his person and property and in their management.” -Thomas Jefferson “Experience hath shown, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power … "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." Our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions any more than our opinions in physics or geometry.– Thomas Jefferson, 11. The main aim of every government is to take care of the Nation. They are contained in six easily downloaded files. The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.– Thomas Jefferson, 16. We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.– Thomas Jefferson, 22. I'll say it again, the Constitution(s) of America do not confer rights or assign duties. Quotations - Constitution by Thomas Jefferson. My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.– Thomas Jefferson, 10. â That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness⦠it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.****. ... Thomas Jefferson "That government is the strongest of … Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson. It was for this reason that he and his colleagues provided such a long list of grievances against the British monarch in order to prove to the world that their reasons for revolt were serious, longstanding, and many. ... but never designedly, and with a systematic and persevering purpose of overthrowing the free principles of the government. Tags: a quote about money a quote about thomas jefferson action will delineate and define you all about thomas jefferson all men are created equal quote all mens are not same quotes always be cool quotes an armed society is a polite society thomas jefferson an oriental odyssey wikipedia anti christian quotes from founding fathers anti democracy quotes anti government quotes … The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive.– Thomas Jefferson, 18. Status: We currently have no evidence to confirm that Thomas Jefferson ever said or wrote, "Democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where 51% of the people may take away the rights of the other 49%" or … CONSTITUTION (PURPOSE … Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends [life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness] it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government. Government is the primary authority channel in every nation. The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers. Other attributions: None known. Thomas Jefferson. The policy of the American government is to leave its citizens free, neither restraining them nor aiding them in their pursuits.– Thomas Jefferson, 17. This collection contains over 2,700 quotations from the writings of Thomas Jefferson. Yes, it is our duty to be armed -- it is not the purpose of the Constitution to assign duties to free citizens, but to limit governmental power. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law’; because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.”. Liberty Fund, Inc. All rights reserved. of industry an improvement,and shall not take from the mouth of labor. the bread it bas earned. The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation which give happiness. - Thomas Jefferson quotes from BrainyQuote.com "The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive." "I'm a greater… Truth can stand by itself.– Thomas Jefferson, 8. “It is not the function of the government to stop the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the... 2. THE POLITICAL WRITINGS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON 133 (Dumbauld Ed. “I'm a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it” … Letâs here get the famous government quotes from the 3rd U.S. President Thomas Jefferson that includes what Thomas Jefferson said about government, what the government can do for people, what the government has to do for people, whatâs the government power, how the people cooperate with government and more. Thomas Jefferson (1820) ... the helmsman, the engineer, do not seem to have one purpose or obey one will so that instead of making steady way the vessel may pursue a devious or zigzag course, and sometimes merely turn round and round in the water." No instance exists of a person’s writing two languages perfectly. In essence the grounds for revolution were two: the offending government had to have moved away from the very reason for its being, namely the protection of each individualâs life, liberty, and property (unfortunately too vaguely expressed here as âthe pursuit of happinessâ); and that there is a clear pattern of behaviour which proves that there is a âdesignâ to create a despotic government over the people. To lay taxes to provide for the general welfare of the United States, that is to say, “to lay taxes for the purpose of providing for the general welfare.” For the laying of taxes is the power, and the general welfare the purpose for … 41. Whatever power in any government is independent, is absolute also.– Thomas Jefferson, 23. The first duty of government is the protection of life, not its destruction. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor. We've compiled a list of the top 100 famous Jefferson quotes and sayings on life, liberty, religion, happiness, people, work, wisdom and more. The laws that forbid the carrying of arm. Man Better Nothing. Thomas Jefferson believed that states could best govern the domestic matters within its state, but a strong Central Government is needed as well to deal with foreign affairs and to keep the country strong as a unified nation. "Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day." There is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequal people.– Thomas Jefferson, 19. Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors. And he knew in his … “The heaviest penalty for declining to rule is to be ruled by someone inferior to … Jefferson took pains to argue that the right of revolution was a limited one, in the sense that one could not do this for weak or frivolous reasons (or âlight and transient causesâ). – Thomas Jefferson. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.– Thomas Jefferson, 4. – Thomas Jefferson 42. Whenever people are well-informed they can be trusted with their own government.– Thomas Jefferson. Discover popular and famous government quotes by Thomas Jefferson. When the government fears the people, there is liberty. Thomas Jefferson Quote “The constitutions of most of our states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property and … 40. I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.– Thomas Jefferson, 6. On the purpose of government: “The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.”. This is the sum of good government,and this is. Experience hath shown, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.– Thomas Jefferson, 5. Jefferson is right -- the quote above is what he stood for. Thomas Jefferson. Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s Argument in the Case of Howell vs. Netherland, [ca. Looking for the best Thomas Jefferson quotes? Thomas Jefferson on Politics & Government Section 5: The Sovereignty of the People The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors. 2. Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s “Summary View of the Rights of British America,” July 1774 [Quote] America was conquered, and her settlements made and firmly established, at the expence of individuals, and not of the British public. “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” – Thomas Jefferson 3. 'Ll say it again, the Constitution ( s ) of America do not confer or... Especially useful for writing and speaking a person ’ s writing two languages.. The least because its people discipline themselves.– Thomas Jefferson, 10 -- the quote above what. 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