The Quotes canon
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Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Informed citizenry3 quotes
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. — Thomas Jefferson · 1816A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. — James Madison · 1822I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion. — Thomas Jefferson · 1820Political theory2 quotes
A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. — James Madison · 1822I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion. — Thomas Jefferson · 1820Ignorance1 quote
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. — Thomas Jefferson · 1816Threats to democracy1 quote
A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. — James Madison · 1822