Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson, (1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President

Thomas Jefferson Quote

“Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights.”

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson
~ Thomas Jefferson

letter to Richard Price, January 8, 1789

Ratings and Comments


jim k, austin

I trust our government. I trust it to get even bigger, more intrusive,to spend more, raise my taxes, and to become even more socialistic and obnoxious than it is now. We can be sure of all this and speed things along by electing the Chosen One, His Majesty, B Obama.

Waffler, Smith, Arkansas

Ah well informed that is the question! Highly educated well informed people that run for public office, who live well, often feel that they would like others to have the opportunity to be able to do the same, to be educated and well informed rather than living in poverty, with bad health, no health insurance, slipping further down the economic ladder etcetera. But often the very folks they wish to help are so ill informed they cannot see or visualize a better life. Because of their lack of being even basically informed they cling to their guns and their bibles as their only issue. Now guns and bibles and moose kills are cool and should not be denied but neither should being well informed, educated and being upwardly mobile.

J Carlton, Calgary

I don't believe for a minute that highly educated and well informed people that run for public office have any higher aspirations than to do for themselves. I do not believe for a minute that any "politician" has any noble thoughts whatsoever. I do believe that what we need are Statesmen, not politicians.

Ken, Allyn, WA

Ignorance and apathy are all that is required to have an out of control government. Unfortunately, there is plenty of both to go around, in large part because both are fostered by government and the other beltway 'elite'.

E Archer, NYC

People cannot be well-informed if they leave the quest for truth up to someone else. We have become way too complacent regarding 'truth in media.' We have 'infotainment' which is fictional news. Freedom of the press belongs to those who have one. But today the Internet may be the greatest opportunity for seekers of truth in recorded history. However, people still have to do the searching. Broadcasting is 'programming' -- it is pablum for those too infantile to look up their own sources and form honest opinions. But slaves do not have a lot of free time, and what little they do have is spent trying to 'relax.' America, the land of creature comforts -- just keep us entertained and we are yours.

Ken, Allyn, WA

Pani et circuses.

Mike, Norwalk

"well informed"? The occupying statist theocracy now infesting this land with its ecclesiastical seminaries (government schools), pastoral propagandists (MSM) and sacerdotal clergy propagate emotionalism instead of facts, theocratic socialism instead of inalienable rights and liberty, sacrosanct spin and arbitrary dogma canon(s) instead of "the laws of nature and of nature's God" (Declaration of Independence). What is so far wrong? Is the slavery of lies and theocratic socialism wrong or is the animating free contest of liberty wrong? Once the desire for a free lunch and immorality become the norm, setting things "right" takes on a whole different perspective.

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