Quotation: "The natural progress of things is for the government to gain ground and for liberty to yield."

Variations:  There are many variations of this quote, including (but not limited to):

1. "As government grows, liberty decreases."
2. "It is in the natural course of events that liberty recedes and government grows.”

Comments: This is a misquotation of Jefferson's statement, "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yeild,1 and government to gain ground."2

- Anna Berkes, 3/6/09; updated 11/20/15

Further Sources

• Kaminski, John P., ed.  The Quotable Jefferson.  Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2006.
• Popik, Barry.  "As government grows, liberty decreases." The Big Apple.  March 9, 2014.

• 1. "Yeild" is Jefferson's original spelling, and one that he used with a fair degree of frequency.
• 2. Jefferson to Edward Carrington, May 27, 1788, in PTJ, 13:208-9. Letterpress copy available online at the Library of Congress. Transcription available at Founders Online.