For Independence Day: Thomas Jefferson’s Anti-Statist Sentiment

Societies exist under three forms, sufficiently distinguishable: (1) without government, as among our Indians; (2) under governments wherein the will of everyone has a just influence, as is the case in England in a slight degree and in our States in a great one; (3) under governments of force, as is the case in all other monarchies and in most of the other republics … It is a problem, not clear in my mind, that the first condition is not the best.

~ Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Edward Carrington, Paris, January 16th 1787

I am convinced that those societies which live without government enjoy in their general mass an infinitely greater degree of happiness than those who live under the European governments. …  Those in power may conclude too hastily that nature has formed man insusceptible of any other government but that of force, a conclusion not founded in truth, nor experience. Governments of force are governments of wolves over sheep.

~ Thomas Jefferson, Letter to James Madison, Paris, January 30th 1787

I have no fear, but that the result of our experiment will be, that men can be trusted to govern themselves.

~ Thomas Jefferson, Letter to D. Hartley, Paris, July 2nd 1787