#ge

Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories. ↗

— Thomas Jefferson

#degenerates #every #government #only #people

Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear. ↗

— Thomas Jefferson

#because #blindfolded #boldness #call #even

One man with courage is a majority. ↗

— Thomas Jefferson

#majority #man

When angry count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred. ↗

— Thomas Jefferson

#angry #before #count #hundred #speak

It behooves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others: or their case may, by change of circumstances, become his own. ↗

— Thomas Jefferson

#behooves #case #change #circumstances #conscience

Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day. ↗

— Thomas Jefferson

#dawn #day #enlighten #evil #generally

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

#answer #cannot #form #found #govern

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

— Thomas Jefferson

#bad government #general #government #history #informs

I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge, never fearing to follow truth and reason to whatever results they led, and bearding every authority which stood in their way. ↗

— Thomas Jefferson

#bold #every #fearing #follow #i

An enemy generally says and believes what he wishes. ↗

— Thomas Jefferson

#enemy #generally #says #wishes