Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page [641-660] of 1389 Government quotesGovernment QuotesGovernment Previous 20 quotes Next 20 quotes I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master.~ Thomas Jefferson But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare in the constitution they are forming that neither the legislature, nor the nation itself can validly contract more debt, than they may pay within their own age, or within the term of 19 years.~ Thomas Jefferson I believe the States can best govern our home concerns, and the General Government our foreign ones. I wish, therefore, to see maintained that wholesome distribution of powers established by the constitution for the limitation of both; and never to see all offices transferred to Washington, where, further withdrawn from the eyes of the people, they may more secretly be bought and sold as at market.~ Thomas Jefferson The care of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the first and only legitimate object of good government.~ Thomas Jefferson The general [federal] government will tend to monarchy, which will fortify itself from day to day, instead of working its own cures.~ Thomas Jefferson Yes, we did produce a near-perfect republic. But will they keep it? Or will they, in the enjoyment of plenty, lose the memory of freedom? Material abundance without character is the path of destruction.~ Thomas Jefferson If the people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.~ Thomas Jefferson Government can do something for the people only in proportion as it can do something to the people.~ Thomas Jefferson No free man shall ever be de-barred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain their right to keep and bear arms is as a last resort to protect themselves against tyranny in government.~ Thomas Jefferson My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. That government is best which governs least.~ Thomas Jefferson The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest.~ Thomas Jefferson The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.~ Thomas Jefferson That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves.~ Thomas Jefferson I... [proposed] three distinct grades of education, reaching all classes. 1. Elementary schools for all children generally, rich and poor. 2. Colleges for a middle degree of instruction, calculated for the common purposes of life and such as should be desirable for all who were in easy circumstances. And 3d. an ultimate grade for teaching the sciences generally and in their highest degree... The expenses of [the elementary] schools should be borne by the inhabitants of the county, every one in proportion to his general tax-rate. This would throw on wealth the education of the poor.~ Thomas Jefferson The happiness and prosperity of our citizens is the only legitimate object of government.~ Thomas Jefferson 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 History, in general, only informs us what bad government is.~ Thomas Jefferson The basis of our government being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate for a moment to prefer the latter.~ Thomas Jefferson Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government; whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied upon to set them to rights.~ Thomas Jefferson Outside of the Constitution we have no legal authority more than private citizens, and within it we have only so much as that instrument gives us. This broad principle limits all our functions and applies to all subjects.~ Andrew Johnson Previous 20 quotes Next 20 quotes Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print