Thomas Jefferson, (1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page Thomas Jefferson Quote “I own I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive.”Thomas Jefferson ~ Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US PresidentLetter to James Madison, Paris, December 20, 1787. THE POLITICAL WRITINGS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON 67-68 (Dumbauld Ed. 1955) Government , President Ratings and Comments Reply bill, cowsbell 7/13/09 Reply jim k, Austin,Tx 8/13/10 As usual, Jefferson was right. Reply Mike, Norwalk 8/13/10 As but one example, when the Supreme Court energetically legislates from the bench and calls it something else. Reply cal, lewisville, tx 8/13/10 Here in Texas we elect all our judges. If they start to become active and energetic-then we can vote them out of office. If only we could do the same with the federal judges. Reply Duncan Campbell, Castleton-on-Hudson 8/13/10 Cal, you got the right idea! Now let's all work toward making a National Referenum Possible to get all the bad judges out. Ron Branson, with JAIL almost got it done. His dream and calling was shot apart by those of the cloke and dagger class won that fight but the war is far from over. Reply Jamie, Nelson 8/13/10 Atta boy ........ I've really come to like this man and his mind!! Reply Ron, Salem 8/14/10 Reply Paul Phelan, Philadelphia, PA 8/14/10 Reply GunnyCee, Durham. 8/15/10 This is a great quote. Jefferson and the rest of the Founding Fathers foresaw everything we are going through today. It isn't a magical or supernatural thing becasue, they were living with the same problems. Human nature never changes, only technology changes. Big government is an active government and Jefferson knew the chaos that results from big government. It's what they rebelled against. Reply Carol, Georgia 8/15/10 Now if we could just get the Founding Fathers back into the history books, so our young people can understand and if we could follow the Constitution the Founders so laboriously constructed, we could have the small government they espoused. We the People would again be a free people. As for me, I want my freedom of religious expression back, be it a creche at Christmas, a display of the Ten Commandments, or a cross in the desert. I'm tired of hearing this isn't a Christian nation. Jefferson was a genius as well as the other Founders. Reply E Archer, NYC 8/16/10 America is not a Christian nation nor was it intended to be -- it was to be a safe haven for ALL faiths. I have no objection to the heritage of the American people being expressed -- that is our right! But Christians should remember what we wish Muslims to remember: belief systems cannot be forced upon others by law no matter how sure their believers are in their faith. Government should be no more energetic in the promotion of Christianity (in its MANY forms) any more than the promotion of Islam (in its many forms). The founders were Deists, mostly, and Jefferson even translated his own version of the Bible from the original Greek and Latin because of what he believed to be the corruption of the Bible by the various organized religions. SO I do not think Jefferson would be quick to defend any government action that spends money on promoting one sect over another. Government money should not be used to give aid to any church or denomination. Let the truth stand on its own -- God does not need government subsidy. SaveOk2 SaveOk2 View CommentsClick to view or comment. Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print This Thomas Jefferson quote is found in these categories: Government quotes President quotes About Thomas Jefferson Bio of Thomas Jefferson Quotations by Thomas Jefferson Books by/about Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson videos Thomas Jefferson on Wikipedia Astrological chart for Thomas Jefferson