It is doubtful that Thomas Jefferson would ever have proposed "Limited Government" as an abstract principle unassociated with specific limiting factors. He was more inclined to express his principles in definite and practical terms, not as abstract generalities. The statement, "That government is best which governs least," often attributed to Jefferson, was probably not written by him, and that subject is covered more thoroughly under That government is best. Nevertheless, Jefferson did believe firmly in limits to government. Indeed, he believed in government in chains!