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> I heard a quote or principal a few days ago attributed to Thomas
> Jefferson - the commentator stated that Mr. Jefferson said there were
> basically two types of politicians - those who distrust the people and feel
> that they know better and those that trust and respect the opinions of the
> people and seek their counsel and seek to do their will.
>
> I have searched for this or a similar quote from Mr. Jefferson for
> several days. Can you help me out???
The quotation you are seeking is undoubtedly the following:
"Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 1. Those
who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into
the hands of the higher classes. 2. Those who identify themselves with the
people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most
honest and safe, although not the most wise depositary of the public
interests. In every country these two parties exist, and in every one where
they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves. Call
them, therefore, Liberals and Serviles, Jacobins and Ultras, Whigs and
Tories, Republicans and Federalists, Aristocrats and Democrats, or by
whatever name you please, they are the same parties still and pursue the
same object. The last one of Aristocrats and Democrats is the true one
expressing the essence of all." --Thomas Jefferson to Henry Lee, 1824. ME
16:73
You can go to Chapter 13 at the Thomas Jefferson on Politics & Government
website for more information and descriptions of these two basic political
parties:
http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/quotations/jeff0800.htm