Tag: Thomas Jefferson

I own that I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive.

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.

That government is the strongest of which every man feels himself a part.

The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.

Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government.

The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.

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 history answer this question.

History, in general, only informs us of what bad government is.

The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.

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.