Thomas Jefferson on Politics & Government

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 2. Securing Rights The purpose of government is to maintain a society which secures to every member the inherent and inalienable rights of man, and promotes the safety and happiness of its people. Protecting these rights from violation, therefore, is its primary obligation. "The principles of government... [are] founded in the rights of man." "It is to secure our rights that we resort to government at all." "The idea is quite unfounded that on entering into society we give up any natural right." "[These are] the rights which God and the laws have given equally and independently to all." "[Montesquieu wrote in Spirit of the Laws, VIII,c.3:] 'In the state of nature, indeed, all men are born equal; but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of the laws.'" "[It is the obligation] of every government to yield protection to their citizens as the consideration for their obedience."