History, in general, only informs us of what bad government is.
Author
Thomas Jefferson
159 quotations
About Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was a Founding Father and the third president of the United States, serving from 1801 to 1809. A prolific writer and philosopher, Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. His political philosophy formed the basis for Jeffersonian democracy, which dominated early American politics alongside federalism. Jefferson remains celebrated as an icon of American political values, but is also controversial for being a lifelong slave owner.
Read on Wikipedia → Find books by Thomas JeffersonSometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the form of kings to govern him? Let …
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.
Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading. I will rather say more necessary because health is worth more than learning.
Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits.
Happiness is not being pained in body or troubled in mind.
The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.
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If we can but prevent the government from wasting the labours of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy.
It is neither wealth nor splendor but tranquility and occupation which give you happiness.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of h…
Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits.
The Creator has not thought proper to mark those in the forehead who are of stuff to make good generals. We are first, therefore, to seek them blindfold, and then let them learn the trade at the expe…
The second office in the government is honorable and easy the first is but a splendid misery.
No government ought to be without censors and where the press is free no one ever will.
That government is the strongest of which every man feels himself a part.
So confident am I in the intentions, as well as wisdom, of the government, that I shall always be satisfied that what is not done, either cannot, or ought not to be done.
I own that I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive.
Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government.
The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.
History, in general, only informs us of what bad government is.
Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the form of kings to govern him? Let …
The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.
Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.
The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.