evidence: While we're on the subject of writings that are frequently decontextualized in order to suit partisan opportunistic gains, many of the "quotes" frequently attributed to Thomas Jefferson — a guy who had a hand in the Constitution — are total nonsense. [...] 1. "My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." [...] Yeah, no, Jefferson probably never said this. It was a tertiary anecdote from the Reverend Ethan Allen, essentially the email forwards of the 19th century. Its authenticity is highly questionable.