Daily Archives: November 19, 2008

My Government

Thomas Jefferson on The Pursuit of Happiness

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Gonna change my way of thinking,
Make myself a different set of rules.
Gonna put my good foot forward,
And stop being influenced by fools.

So much oppression,
Can’t keep track of it no more.
~ Bob Dylan

clipped from etext.virginia.edu

“The Giver of life gave it for happiness and not for wretchedness.” –Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 1782. ME 4:196, Papers 6:186

“The freedom and happiness of man… [are] the sole objects of all legitimate government.” –Thomas Jefferson to Thaddeus Kosciusko, 1810. ME 12:369

“[It is a] great truth that industry, commerce and security are the surest roads to the happiness and prosperity of [a] people.” –Thomas Jefferson to Francisco Chiappe, 1789. Papers 15:405

“The only orthodox object of the institution of government is to secure the greatest degree of happiness possible to the general mass of those associated under it.” –Thomas Jefferson to M. van der Kemp, 1812. ME 13:135

“I sincerely pray that all the members of the human family may, in the time prescribed by the Father of us all, find themselves securely established in the enjoyment of life, liberty, and happiness.” –Thomas Jefferson: Reply to Ellicot Thomas, et al., 1807. ME 16:290
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My Government

Thomas Jefferson on The Right to Life and Liberty

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Some self-evident truth that carries with it the force to change our way of thinking and in turn change the way we govern ourselves.
clipped from etext.virginia.edu

“The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time; the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them.” –Thomas Jefferson: Rights of British America, 1774. ME 1:211, Papers 1:135

“Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plenitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law,’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.” –Thomas Jefferson to Isaac H. Tiffany, 1819.

“I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.” –Thomas Jefferson to Archibald Stuart, 1791. ME 8:276

“In a government bottomed on the will of all, the life and liberty of every individual citizen becomes interesting to all.” –Thomas Jefferson: 5th Annual Message, 1805. ME 3:390
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