Thomas Jefferson Quotes on People (35 Quotes)

We are endeavoring, too, to reduce the government to the practice of a rigorous economy, to avoid burdening the people, and arming the magistrate with patronage of money, which might be used to corrupt and undermine the principles of our government

I place economy among the first and important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers. To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our choice between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude. If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of caring for them, they will be happy.

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government

The firmness with which the people have withstood the late abuses of the press, the discernment they have manifested between truth and falsehood, show that they may safely be trusted to hear everything true and false, and to form a correct judgment b

Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day.

A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.

I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground that 'all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people.' To take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specially drawn around the powers of Congress, is to take possession of a boundless field of power, not longer susceptible of any definition.

Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.

... whenever any form of government becomes destructive ... it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it...

The good sense of the people will always be found to be the best army.

All authority belongs to the people.

Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God.

For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.

I know of no safe repository for the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to increase their discretion by education.

I am not among those who fear the people. They, and not the rich, are our dependence for continued freedom.

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

When governments fear the people there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny.

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.

We prefer war in all cases to tribute under any form and to any people whatever

Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.

If once the people become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature, in spite of individual exceptions.

Every people may establish what form of government they please, and change it as they please, the will of the nation being the only thing essential.

I know of 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, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion.

A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.

The only purpose of government is to protect the people.

When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.

Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.

Do not be too severe upon the errors of the people, but reclaim them by enlightening them

I sincerely believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. The issuing powers should be taken from the banks and restored to the people to whom it properly belongs.

If Americans ever allow banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children will wake up homeless

Governments are republican only in proportion as they employ the will of the people and execute it

The tax which will be paid for the purpose of education is not more than the thousandth part of what will be paid to kings, priests and nobles who will rise up among us if we leave the people in ignorance

Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.

If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send one hundred and fifty lawyers, whose trade it is to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour?

The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed.