Thomas Jefferson Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"Choice by the people themselves is not
generally distinguished for its wisdom."

by:	Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President
Source:	1776, Jefferson’s Literary Commonplace Book, Wilson, ed., 1989, p. 11.
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Categories:	Collectivism, Democracy, President, Republic
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Reader comments about this quote:

The farther away the politician is from the sovereign individual, the less distinguished his wisdom is considered. The new world order eliminates wisdom all together. -- Mike, Norwalk 1
This quote is the reason our political system was set up as a representative republic instead of a democracy. -- Mike, Mount Holly, NC 1
However, choice by the rulers themselves is generally distinguished by the servitude of the people. -- E Archer, NYC
Jefferson is never bad -- garret seinen, port alberni
We still have never had a better president than Jefferson!!!!!!!!! -- cal, lewisville, tx
Kudo's for Archer, He finally really nailed one. This is so unlike Jefferson and taken wholly out of context of the volume of his work. He is the guy that said people should revolt every generation etcetera. And he certainly supported representative governnent which is choice by the people. In the short run the people obviously make mistakes but in the long run history has shown the people's choice to be the better way. -- Waffler, Smith