Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Questions of natural right are triable by their conformity with the moral sense and reason of man. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A government held together by the bands of reason only, requires much compromise of opinion. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The world is indebted for all triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity over error and oppression. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
It is as useless to argue with those who have renounced the use of reason as to administer medication to the dead. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I have so much confidence in the good sense of man, and his qualifications for self-government, that I am never afraid of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
in the spring he will attend your botanical course. his natural turn is very strongly to the objects of your two courses… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge, never fearing to follow truth and reason to whatever results they led, and bearding… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The reason that Christianity is the best friend of government is because Christianity is the only religion that changes the heart. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I am... for freedom of the press, and against all violations of the Constitution to silence by force and not by reason… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error... They are the natural enemies of error, and of error only...… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If there be any among us who wish to dissolve the Union or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Every one must act according to the dictates of his own reason, and mine tells me that civil powers alone have been… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
When we consider how much climate contributes to the happiness of our condition, by the fine sensation it excites, and the productions… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
No experiment can be more interesting than that we are now trying, and which we trust will end in establishing the fact,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
We are destined to be a barrier against the return of ignorance and barbarism. Old Europe will have to lean on our… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
To talk of immaterial existences is to talk of nothings. To say that the human soul, angels, god, are immaterial, is to… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Reason and free inquiry are the only effective agents against error. Give a loose to them, they will support the true religion… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I join cordially in admiring and revering the Constitution of the United States, the result of the collected wisdom of our country.… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Up until the late unpleasantness of the Civil war, then, the right of secession was more or less taken for granted in… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“May it [American independence] be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Your own reason is the only oracle given you by heaven, and you are answerable for, not the rightness, but the uprightness… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I hope that we have not labored in vain, and that our experiment will still prove that men can be governed by… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
If a sect arises whose tenets would subvert morals, good sense has fair play and reasons and laughs it out of doors… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I have learned to be less confident in the conclusions of human reason, and give more credit to the honesty of contrary… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
In a republican nation whose citizens are to be led by reason and persuasion and not by force, the art of reasoning… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[If a book were] very innocent, and one which might be confided to the reason of any man; not likely to be… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
In a free society with a government based on reason, it is inevitable that there will be no uniform opinion about important… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
In every country where man is free to think and to speak, difference of opinion will arise from difference of perception, and… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
What has been the effect of coericion [sic]? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors? Fallible men; men governed by bad passions, by private as well as… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Ministers of the Gospel are excluded [from serving as Visitors of the county Elementary Schools] to avoid jealousy from the other sects,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
[States and the Federal government are] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
![“Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error... They are the natural enemies of error, and of error only... If [free enquiry] be restrained now, the present corruptions will be protected, and new ones encouraged.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/645/thomas-jefferson-43_agents_reason-and-free-inquiry-are-the-only-eff_1546896.jpg)
![“What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth… [Instead] reason and persuasion are the only practicable instruments. To make way for these, free enquiry must be indulged; and how can we wish…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4a4/thomas-jefferson-43_earth_what-has-been-the-effect-of-coercion-to_238945.jpg)
![“May it [American independence] be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/73f/thomas-jefferson-43_american-independenc_may-it-american-independence-be-to-the-w_931310.jpg)
![“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. [Misattributed]” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fb1/thomas-jefferson-43_arms_the-strongest-reason-for-the-people-to-r_951173.jpg)
![“[If a book were] very innocent, and one which might be confided to the reason of any man; not likely to be much read if let alone, but if persecuted, it will be generally read. Every man in the United States will think it a duty to buy a copy, in vindication of his right to buy and to read what he…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ca5/thomas-jefferson-43_book_if-a-book-were-very-innocent-and-one-whi_1766472.jpg)
![“What has been the effect of coericion [sic]? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and errors all over the earth... [Instead] reason and persuasion are the only practicable instruments. To make way for these, free inquiry must be indulged; and how can…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/805/thomas-jefferson-43_earth_what-has-been-the-effect-of-coericion-si_851023.jpg)
![“Ministers of the Gospel are excluded [from serving as Visitors of the county Elementary Schools] to avoid jealousy from the other sects, were the public education committed to the ministers of a particular one; and with more reason than in the case of their exclusion from the legislative and…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/760/thomas-jefferson-43_cases_ministers-of-the-gospel-are-excluded-fro_628946.jpg)
![“[States and the Federal government are] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch of the same government.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/401/thomas-jefferson-43_branches_states-and-the-federal-government-are-co_2619.jpg)
![“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00c/thomas-jefferson-43_change_single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-t_5515.jpg)
![“Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear their leading you out of [any difficult situation] in the easiest manner possible...” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ebe/thomas-jefferson-43_difficult_though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one_9828.jpg)
