"And say, finally, whether peace is best preserved by giving energy to the government or information to the people. This last is the most legitimate engine of government. Educate and inform the whole mass of people. Enable them to see that it is their interest to preserve peace and order, and they will preserve them. And it requires no very high degree of education to convince them of this. They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty."
by:
Thomas Jefferson
(1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President
Source:
Letter to James Madison, Paris, December 20, 1787. The Political Writings Of Thomas Jefferson 68 (Dumbauld Ed. 1955)
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Reader comments about this quote:
And our government today says for us to give up what we have to the government and they will take good care of us with Obama Care.
 -- cal, lewisville, tx     
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    We could sure use another Thomas Jefferson now, but all I see in Washington is a bunch of political hacks of which most should be in jail.
     -- jim k, Austin, Tx     
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    Somehow, our servant government has turned itself into our master. Instead of communicating the dangers and allowing the people to be prepared, the government has stopped informing us and started commanding us -- usually to pay for 'insurance' (protection money) or health care (medical establishment monopoly) or any number of new dictates from the State to obey new rules 'for our own safety.'
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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