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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

In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the constitution.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Confidence Constitution Democracy Law Man Power
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
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

God Government Injury Neighbor Power Religion
I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves ; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Control Liberty People Power Safe Society
Those who expect to be both ignorant and free, expect what never was and never will be.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Expectation Freedom Ignorant
The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Art Consist Government Honesty
Let us save what remains: not by vaults and locks which fence them from the public eye and use in consigning them to the waste of time, but by such a multiplication of copies, as shall place them beyond the reach of accident.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Accident Heritage History Public Time Wasted Time
I cannot live without books.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Addiction Book One Liner Reading
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
I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and Constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Change Constitutions Human Institution Law Mind
No people can be both ignorant and free.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Freedom Ignorant One Liner Peace People
Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Action Be Yourself Confidence Inspirational Positive
I think one travels more usefully when they travel alone, because they reflect more.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Alone One Liner Reflect Solitude Thinking Travel
The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Fund Future Money Principle
History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Believe Government History Ignorance People Religious
I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge, never fearing to follow truth and reason to whatever results they led.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Bold Courage Fear Honesty Knowledge Truth
We have no right to prejudice another in his civil enjoyments because he is of another church.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Civil Enjoyment Religion Right
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

Freedom Future Government Happiness People Politics
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Bank Believe DAngry Institution Liberty Stand
Every human being must be viewed according to what it is good for. For not one of us, no, not one, is perfect. And were we to love none who had imperfection, this world would be a desert for our love.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

According Goodness Human Imperfection Love Perfection
We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Country Government Majority Participate Politics
I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

DAngry Deep Freedom One Liner Peace Slavery
But friendship is precious, not only in the shade but in the sunshine of life; & thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things, the greater part of life is sunshine. I will recur for proof to the days we have lately passed. On these indeed the sun shone brightly.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Arrangement Friendship Precious Proof Sun Sunshine
We confide in our strength, without boasting of it, we respect that of others, without fearing it.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Confidence Fear Respect Strength
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
On matters of style, swim with the current, on matters of principle, stand like a rock.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Inspirational Principle Rock Stand Style Swim
It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Alone Freedom Government Need Support Truth

The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object.

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The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object.

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Popular Authors

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