Thomas Jefferson Quotes About Democracy

• The end of democracy and the defeat of the American Revolution will occur when government falls into the hands of lending institutions and moneyed incorporations.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Fall, Government, Hands

• The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Religious, Men, Issues

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

  Thomas Jefferson

  Trust, Freedom, Educational

  Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Holmes (2002). “Thomas Jefferson: A Chronology of His Thoughts”, p.106, Rowman & Littlefield
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  Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Trust, Time, Democracies Have

  Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.235, Cambridge University Press

• The cornerstone of democracy rests on the foundation of an educated electorate.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Democracy, Foundation, Educated

• A free people [claim] their rights as derived from the laws of nature, and not as the gift of their chief magistrate.

  Thomas Jefferson

  4th Of July, Rights, Law

  Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs, Correspondence, and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Late President of the United States”, p.118

• The country is headed toward a single and splendid government of an aristocracy founded on banking institutions and moneyed incorporations and if this tendency continues it will be the end of freedom and democracy, the few will be ruling...I hope we shall...crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations which dare already to challenge our government to trial and bid defiance to the laws of our country. I sincerely believe that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Crush, Country, Believe

• A properly functioning democracy depends on an informed electorate.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Democracy, Electorate, Depends

• Every man cannot have his way in all things. If his opinion prevails at some times, he should acquiesce on seeing that of others preponderate at other times. Without this mutual disposition we are disjointed individuals, but not a society.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Men, Democracy, Way

  Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. IX (in 12 Volumes)”, p.281, Cosimo, Inc.

• The majority, oppressing an individual, is guilty of a crime, abuses its strength, and by acting on the law of the strongest breaks up the foundations of society.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Freedom, 4th Of July, Law

  Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private : Published by the Order of the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library, from the Original Manuscripts, Deposited in the Department of State”, p.591

• Democracy is 51% of the people taking away the rights of the other 49%.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Rights, People, Democracy

• An informed citizenry is at the heart of a dynamic democracy.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Heart, Democracy, Informed Citizenry

• It is the old practice of despots to use a part of the people to keep the rest in order.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Freedom, Order, Practice

  Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1859). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence”, p.246

• Difference of opinion leads to enquiry, and enquiry to truth; and I am sure...we both value too much the freedom of opinion sanctioned by our Constitution, not to cherish its exercise even where in opposition to ourselves.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Exercise, Differences, Democracy

• It is my principle that the will of the majority should always prevail.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Motivational, Democracy, Majority

  Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.363, Cambridge University Press

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

  Thomas Jefferson

  Men, Political, Democracy

  Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1853). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, cont”, p.38

• We are sensible of the duty and expediency of submitting our opinions to the will of the majority, and can wait with patience till they get right if they happen to be at any time wrong.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Waiting, Democracy, Majority

  Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: 1799-1803”, p.107, Cosimo, Inc.

• Liberty is to the collective body, what health is to every individual body. Without health no pleasure can be tasted by man; without liberty, no happiness can be enjoyed by society.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Men, Healthy, Individuality

• In a government bottomed on the will of all, the... liberty of every individual citizen becomes interesting to all.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Freedom, 4th Of July, Government

  Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence and Papers, 1803-1807”, p.192, Cosimo, Inc.

• A government is republican in proportion as every member composing it has his equal voice in the direction of its concerns, not indeed in person, which would be impracticable beyond the limits of a city or small township, but by representatives chosen by himself and responsible to him at short periods.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Equality, Cities, Voice

  Thomas Jefferson (2006). “The Essential Jefferson”, p.240, Hackett Publishing

• My heart trembles when I reflect that God is just

  Thomas Jefferson

  God, Patriotic, Heart

• And where else will [Hume,] this degenerate son of science, this traitor to his fellow men, find the origin of just powers, if not in the majority of the society? Will it be in the minority? Or in an individual of that minority?

  Thomas Jefferson

  Son, Men, Democracy

  Thomas Jefferson, Jean M. Yarbrough (1963). “The Essential Jefferson”, p.261, Hackett Publishing

• Eternal Vigilance is the price of democracy.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Democracy, Vigilance, Eternal

• Laws provide against injury from others; but not from ourselves.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Freedom, Democracies Have, Law

  Thomas Jefferson (2010). “The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1771 - 1779, the Summary View, and the Declaration of Independence”, p.263, Cosimo, Inc.

• Let us in education dream of an aristocracy of achievement arising out of a democracy of opportunity

  Thomas Jefferson

  Dream, School, Opportunity

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