Separation of church and state Quotes by Thomas Jefferson

Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law.

— Thomas Jefferson

I have sworn upon the altar of god.

— Thomas Jefferson

Question with boldness even the existence of a god.

— Thomas Jefferson

I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man.

— Thomas Jefferson

I... [am] convinced [man] has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

— Thomas Jefferson

The legislative powers of government reach actions only and not opinions.

— Thomas Jefferson

The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend to all the happiness of man.

— Thomas Jefferson

Erecting the 'wall of separation between church and state'... is absolutely essential in a free society.

— Thomas Jefferson

The office of reformer of the superstitions of a nation is ever dangerous.

— Thomas Jefferson

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government.

— Thomas Jefferson

Creeds have been the bane of the Christian church ... made of Christendom a slaughter-house.

— Thomas Jefferson

Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence…

— Thomas Jefferson

What has been the effect of [religious] coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support…

— Thomas Jefferson

Certainly, no power to prescribe any religious exercise, or to assume authority in religious discipline, has been delegated to the General Government.

— Thomas Jefferson

The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a…

— Thomas Jefferson

I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced…

— Thomas Jefferson

It is too late in the day for men of sincerity to pretend they believe in the Platonic mysticisms that three are…

— Thomas Jefferson

The mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to…

— Thomas Jefferson

The clergy, by getting themselves established by law and in-grafted into the machine of government, have been a very formidable engine against…

— Thomas Jefferson

If we did a good act merely from love of God and a belief that it is pleasing to Him, whence arises…

— Thomas Jefferson

We have solved, by fair experiment, the great and interesting question whether freedom of religion is compatible with order in government and…

— Thomas Jefferson

In matters of religion, I have considered that its free exercise is placed by the Constitution independent of the powers of the…

— Thomas Jefferson

Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have…

— Thomas Jefferson

Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was…

— Thomas Jefferson

To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and…

— Thomas Jefferson

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none…

— Thomas Jefferson

Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him (i.e. Jesus) by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality,…

— Thomas Jefferson

The impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed…

— Thomas Jefferson

I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or…

— Thomas Jefferson

“But our rulers can have authority over such natural rights only as we have submitted to them. The rights of conscience we…

— Thomas Jefferson

The office of reformer of the superstitions of a nation, is ever more dangerous. Jesus had to work on the perilous confines…

— Thomas Jefferson

“...legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people…

— Thomas Jefferson

In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty.

— Thomas Jefferson

The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others.

— Thomas Jefferson

No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever.

— Thomas Jefferson

“It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket…

— Thomas Jefferson

Those who live by mystery & charlatanerie, fearing you would render them useless by simplifying the Christian philosophy - the most sublime…

— Thomas Jefferson

All persons shall have full and free liberty of religious opinion; nor shall any be compelled to frequent or maintain any religious…

— Thomas Jefferson

It is not to be understood that I am with him (Jesus Christ) in all his doctrines. I am a Materialist; he…

— Thomas Jefferson