I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labour of the industrious.

Quote by Thomas Jefferson

Topics: Government Quotes

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

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

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending...

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending...

The most successful war seldom pays for its losses.

The most successful war seldom pays for its losses.

A republican government is slow to move, yet when once in motion, its momentum becomes...

A republican government is slow to move, yet when once in motion, its momentum becomes...

The only orthodox object of the institution of government is to secure the greatest degree...

The only orthodox object of the institution of government is to secure the greatest degree...

Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and...

Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and...

Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may...

Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may...

Speeches that are measured by the hour will die with the hour.

Speeches that are measured by the hour will die with the hour.

The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time; the hand...

The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time; the hand...

I have often thought that nothing would do more extensive good at small expense than...

I have often thought that nothing would do more extensive good at small expense than...

Men of quality are not threatened by women of equality

Men of quality are not threatened by women of equality

The second office of this government is honorable and easy, the first is but a...

The second office of this government is honorable and easy, the first is but a...

Let those flatter who fear; it is not an American art

Let those flatter who fear; it is not an American art

The moral sense is the first excellence of well-organized man.

The moral sense is the first excellence of well-organized man.

I am for a government rigorously frugal and simple, applying all the possible savings of...

I am for a government rigorously frugal and simple, applying all the possible savings of...

No defender of slavery, I concede that it has its benevolent aspects in lifting the...

No defender of slavery, I concede that it has its benevolent aspects in lifting the...

Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the...

Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the...

Happiness is not being pained in body or troubled in mind.

Happiness is not being pained in body or troubled in mind.

Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans,...

Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans,...

One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them.

One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them.