Thomas Jefferson on Politics & Government

Table of Contents

This collection contains over 2,100 quotations from the writings of Thomas Jefferson. To download the special collection of about 350 quotations, see the option at the end of the Table of Contents.

SUGGESTION: Persons interested in downloading a whole chapter of the main collection without HTML codes can do so using Netscape if they "Save As..." to a text file (with a .txt ending). Netscape will strip off the HTML codes and leave a clean copy.

Please refer to the Front Page for introductory information and for listings of other sources related to Thomas Jefferson and his writings.

I. The Fundamentals of Government

1. Inalienable Rights
2. Securing Rights
3. Moral Principles
4. Moral Degeneracy
5. The Sovereignty of the People
6. The Safest Depository

   II. The Theory of Republican Government

7. Republican Principles
8. Majority Rule
9. Self-Government
10. Good Government
11. Governed by Reason
12. Difference of Opinion
13. Political Parties

    III. The Structure of Republican Government

14. The Constitution: State & Federal
15. The Bill of Rights
16. Amending the Constitution
17. Interpreting the Constitution
18. Judicial Review
19. Separation of Powers: Federal and State
20. Against Consolidated Government
21. Separation of Powers: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
22. Elective Government
23. Legislative Branch
24. The Legislators
25. Executive Branch
26. The Art of Governing
27. Duties of the Executive
28. Judicial Branch

    IV. Government Policy in a Republic

29. The Justice System
30. Immigration Policy
31. Racial Policy
32. Native American Policy
33. Public Works & Public Assistance
34. Commerce & Agriculture
35. Money & Banking
36. Taxation & Fiscal Responsibility
37. The National Debt
38. Educating the People
39. Publicly Supported Education
40. Foreign Relations
41. The Rights of Nations
42. Foreign Commerce
43. Peace & War
44. Unavoidable Wars
45. A Republic at War
46. The Military & the Militia

    V. Citizen Rights in a Republic

47. Civil Rights

    Free Correspondence
    Freedom of Conscience
    The Right to Bear Arms
    Other Rights

48. Juridical Rights

    Habeas Corpus
    Trial by Jury

49. Property Rights
50. Freedom of the Press
51. Freedom of Religion

    VI. The Prospects for Self-Government

52. Duties of Citizens
53. The Spread of Self-Government
54. Revolution and Reformation
55. The Future of Democracy in America

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Download the Quotation Collection:

Favorite Jefferson Quotes

This separate collection contains a selection of the most popular of the quotations from Jefferson's writings as presented more fully here. These quotes are especially useful for writing and speaking. They are contained in six easily downloaded files.

A Note on the Editing

A small number of quotations are followed by the sign, (*). This designates a quote that has been 'generalized.' In its original form, the vital principle was stated in terms of a specific application. The form stated here has words added in brackets or phrases rearranged so as to give it a general, rather than a specific and, usually, dated reading. Of course, none of this is contrary to the underlying principle as expressed by Jefferson. The purpose is to extract that principle and to make available an important point that must otherwise be omitted. When this is done, more complete bibliographical information is provided so that the reader can easily verify the precise wording and context if desired.

Both the spelling and the punctuation of the quotations have been edited to conform with modern usage. Alterations to the punctuation consist mostly of fewer commas. The practice in Jefferson's time was to set off almost every phrase with commas. Today, commas are used to convey the structure of a sentence more precisely, and too many commas undermine that depiction of structure and make the sentences more difficult for modern readers to understand.

The designation in the form, "Papers, 1:423," is a reference to the location of the quote in The Papers of Thomas Jefferson. The designation in the form, "ME 12:345," refers to the location in The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, (Memorial Edition) Lipscomb and Bergh, editors. See the section Recommended Collections and Sources for further information.

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