Sometimes it is said that man can not be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the forms of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question.

Thomas Jefferson

First Inaugural Address of Thomas Jefferson

Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon Buy a book containing this speech at Amazon
Read this speech at UVA's Miller Center website

More information about this quote

Topic

Political theory Government

Speaker

Thomas Jefferson

Source

First Inaugural Address of Thomas Jefferson Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1801 1800s 19th century

Occupation

Founding Father American President National leader Politician

From

United States

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1801, Senate Chamber, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Thomas Jefferson about political theory: “Sometimes it is said that man can not be trusted with the government…”
Download
A quote by Thomas Jefferson about political theory: “Sometimes it is said that man can not be trusted with the government…”
Download
A quote by Thomas Jefferson about political theory: “Sometimes it is said that man can not be trusted with the government…”
Download

Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Thomas Jefferson

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.

Thomas Jefferson

More information about this quote
Topic
Power of ideas Free exchange of ideas

Author

Thomas Jefferson
Medium
Letter
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
English
Time
1813 1810s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to Issac McPherson. 13 Aug. 1813.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "Issac McPherson, Aug. 13, 1813." The Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Including the Autobiography, The Declaration of Independence & His Public and Private Letters, edited by Adrienne Koch and William Peden. Modern Library, 1998.

Another quote from the 1800s

The sum which two married people owe to one another defies calculation. It is an infinite debt, which can only be discharged through all eternity.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Elective Affinities

Buy Elective Affinities at Amazon Buy Elective Affinities at Amazon
Read Elective Affinities at Project Gutenberg
More information about this quote
Topic
Marriage
Speaker
Mittler

Author

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Source
Elective Affinities
Medium
Novel
Language
German
Time
1808 1800s 19th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Von Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Die Wahlvenwandtschaften [Elective Affinities]. Tubingen: J. G. Cottaische Buchhandlung, 1809, bk. 1, ch. 9.

Current Citation

Von Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Elective Affinities, translated by David Constantine. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 1, ch. 9.

Another quote about Political theory

Every revolutionary ends by becoming either an oppressor or a heretic.

Albert Camus

The Rebel

Buy The Rebel at Amazon Buy The Rebel at Amazon
More information about this quote
Topic
Revolutionaries Revolution Political theory Politics

Author

Albert Camus
Source
The Rebel
Medium
Essay
Genre
Philosophical literature Political literature
Language
French
Time
1951 1950s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Camus, Albert. L'Homme Revolte [The Rebel]. Gallimard, 1951.

Another quote from the following genre Political speech

It is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused; the propriety of the nation must be startled; the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be proclaimed and denounced.

Frederick Douglass

What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?

More information about this quote
Topic
American slavery American Civil War
Speaker
Frederick Douglass
Source
What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Language
English
Time
1852 1850s 19th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Douglass, Frederick. Speech to the Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society. 5 July 1852, Corinthian Hall, Rochester, NY, USA.

Current Citation

Douglass, Frederick. "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? An Address." Frederick Douglass: Speeches & Writings, edited by David W. Blight. Library of America, 2022.