If, then, the control of the people over the organs of their government be the measure of its republicanism, and I confess I know no other measure, it must be agreed that our governments have much less of republicanism than ought to have been expected; in other words, that the people have less regular control over their agents, than their rights and their interests require.
Thomas JeffersonGovernment is being founded on opinion, the opinion of the public, even when it is wrong, ought to be respected to a certain degree.
Thomas JeffersonWith those who wish to think amiss of me, I have learnt to be perfectly indifferent: but where I know a mind to be ingenuous, andto need only truth to set it to rights, I cannot be as passive.
Thomas Jefferson