"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground"
- Thomas Jefferson
About this Quote
This quote by Thomas Jefferson speaks with the concept that, gradually, the power of government tends to increase while the flexibility of individuals tends to reduce. This is a natural development, according to Jefferson, and is something that ought to be anticipated. He is recommending that, without conscious effort to the contrary, federal government will end up being more powerful and people will become less complimentary. This is a cautioning to citizens to be watchful in protecting their liberties, as it is simple for federal government to pick up speed if people are not actively working to safeguard their freedoms. Jefferson is likewise recommending that federal government needs to be restricted in its power, as it is natural for it to grow and trespass on the rights of individuals.
"In my case Pilgrim's Progress consisted in my having to climb down a thousand ladders until I could reach out my hand to the little clod of earth that I am"
"Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own; and from morning to night, as from the cradle to the grave, it is but a succession of changes so gentle and easy that we can scarcely mark their progress"
"Law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress"
