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When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.

Thomas Jefferson

The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Gain Government Ground Liberty Progress
We have no right to prejudice another in his civil enjoyments because he is of another church.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Civil Enjoyment Religion Right
History, in general, only informs us what bad government is.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Bad Government History Politics
It is an axiom in my mind, that our liberty can never be safe but in the hands of the people themselves, and that too of the people with a certain degree of instruction. This it is the business of the State to effect, and on a general plan.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Business Democracy Instruction Liberty Mind People
I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Attend Degree Expose Inconveience Liberty Reveal
When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Fear Government Liberty People Politics
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

Civilization Expectation Freedom Ignorant Nation State
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.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Destructive Ending Government People Politics Right
I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Difference Friendship Opinion Philosophy Politics Religion
No people can be both ignorant and free.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Freedom Ignorant One Liner Peace People
I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Necessary Physical Politics Rebellion Storm World
Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Commerce Friendship Honesty Nation Peace
The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plant to its culture.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Country Culture Nature Plant Service
He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Darkness Himself Ideas Instruction Lesson Light
What a stupendous, what an incomprehensible machine is man! Who can endure toil, famine, stripes, imprisonment and death itself in vindication of his own liberty, and the next moment
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Death Liberty Machine Man Struggle
The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Expression Foundation Freedom Government People Protect

When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.

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When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.

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