Thomas Jefferson

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 happiness.

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 history answer this question.

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.

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.

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.

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.

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

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.

The good opinion of mankind, like the lever of Archimedes, with the given fulcrum, moves the world.

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.