Quotes from Thomas Jefferson

If I had to choose between government without newspapers, and newspapers without government, I wouldn't hesitate to choose the latter

It is reasonable that everyone who asks justice should do justice

I consider the government of the U.S. as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises.

The legislative powers of government reach actions only and not opinions.

Dependence begets subservience and venality, suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit tools for the designs of ambition.

In every government on earth is some trace of human weakness, some germ of corruption and degeneracy, which cunning will discover, and wickedness insensibly open, cultivate and improve.

It is not by the consolidation or concentration of powers but by their distribution that good government is effected.

The functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty and property of their constituents.

Very many and very meritorious were the worthy patriots who assisted in bringing back our government to its republican tack. To preserve it in that, will require unremitting vigilance.

The opinions of men are not the object of civil government, nor under its jurisdiction.

History, in general, only informs us of what bad government is.

So confident am I in the intentions, as well as wisdom, of the government, that I shall always be satisfied that what is not done, either cannot, or ought not to be done.

The excellence of every government is its adaptation to the state of those to be governed by it.

We are not to expect to be translated from despotism to liberty in a featherbed.

Legislators invent too many devices for subdividing property, only taking care to let their subdivisions go hand in hand with the natural affections of the human mind.

no one more sincerely wishes the spread of information among mankind than I do, and none has greater confidence in it's effect towards supporting free & good government.

May it be to the world... to assume the blessings and security of self-government.

It behooves our citizens to be on their guard, to be firm in their principles, and full of confidence in themselves. We are able to preserve our self-government if we will but think so.

No government can continue good, but under the control of the people.

The cement of this union is in the heart blood of every American. I do not believe there is on earth a government established on so immovable a basis.

A cold-blooded, calculation, unprincipled, usurper, without a virtue, no statesman, knowing nothing of commerce, political economy, or civil government, and supplying ignorance by bold presumption.

We act not for ourselves but for the whole human race. The event of our experiment is to show whether man can be trusted with self - government.

Government governed least is government governed best.

Those who bear equally the burthens of Government should equally participate of its benefits.