No government ought to be without censors and where the press is free no one ever will. – Thomas Jefferson
The second office in the government is honorable and easy the first is but a splendid misery. – Thomas Jefferson
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. – Thomas Jefferson
The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind. – Thomas Jefferson
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. – Thomas Jefferson
The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive. – Thomas Jefferson
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. – Thomas Jefferson
History, in general, only informs us of what bad government is. – Thomas Jefferson
The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground. – Thomas Jefferson
Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government. – Thomas Jefferson
I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country. – Thomas Jefferson
Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government. – Thomas Jefferson
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. – Thomas Jefferson
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. – Thomas Jefferson
In truth, politeness is artificial good humor, it covers the natural want of it, and ends by rendering habitual a substitute nearly equivalent to the real virtue. – Thomas Jefferson
I find that he is happiest of whom the world says least, good or bad. – Thomas Jefferson
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 expense of great losses. – Thomas Jefferson
The good opinion of mankind, like the lever of Archimedes, with the given fulcrum, moves the world. – Thomas Jefferson
The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government. – Thomas Jefferson
I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another. – Thomas Jefferson
