Thomas Jefferson Quotes

Officeholders are the agents of the people, not their masters. Not only is their time and labor due to the government, but they should scrupulously avoid in their political action, as well as in the discharge of their official duty, offending by a display of obtrusive partisanship their neighbors who have relations with them as public officials.

We're going to make sure that the people who run for office and get elected are the ones who are going to work for the American people.

Nothing so strongly impels a man to regard the interest of his constituents, as the certainty of returning to the general mass of the people, from whence he was taken, where he must participate in their burdens.

I'd rather report to four million people as the elected Sheriff than some governor or president, so I like reporting to the people.

I think we need people in Washington who really have more of a sense of a George Washington approach to it, which is to serve and go home. I think far too many of both parties see it as a career. And I don't think that's good for our country.

Lincoln's leadership is based on a number of precepts, but my favorite one is that he acted in the name, and for the good, of the people.

The American people need to know the truth. The American people need to see the truth. In a democracy, letting the people know the truth is the essence of what it means to be free.

The government serves the people - not vice-versa.

There have been 2000 Americans who have served in Congress. The people who serve in Congress are no better nor no worse than those in any other American institution.

A whistle-blower is a public servant of the highest order.

The administration of government, like a guardianship ought to be directed to the good of those who confer, not to those who receive the trust.

Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees; and both the trust and trustees are created for the benefit of the public.

Public officers are the trustees of the people.

If you accept the privilege of public service, you had better understand the responsibilities of public service.

I long for the time when the public service will get onto a higher plane than that of serving political parties, and come to serve the public interest instead.

I am, as you know, only the servant of the people.

Those who do not serve the public interest should not hold a public license.

That sheriffs and coroners be annually appointed; and that no person shall be capable of holding either of the said offices more than four years successively

In order to prevent those, who are vested with authority, from becoming oppressors, the people have a right, at such periods and in such manner as they shall establish by their frame of government, to cause their public officers to return to private life; and to fill up vacant places by certain and regular elections and appointments.

It is time that we labored for the happiness of the people. Legislators who are to bring light and order into the world must pursue their course with inexorable tread, fearless and unswerving as the sun.

The very essence of a free government consists in considering offices as public trusts, bestowed for the good of the country, and not for the benefit of an individual or party.

I freely acknowledge myself the servant of the people, according to the bond of service -- the United States Constitution; and that, as such, I am responsible to them.

... we, the people, elect leaders not to rule but to serve.

I wasn't elected to avoid conflict. I was elected to represent the people of the 2nd District.

There was a time when the United States government earned the trust of its people. There was a time when most people believed that the United States government was protecting them.