Exercise Quote by Thomas Jefferson
![“All... natural rights may be abridged or modified in [their] exercise by law.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/53c/thomas-jefferson-43_exercise_all-natural-rights-may-be-abridged-or-mo_1941963.jpg)
“All... natural rights may be abridged or modified in [their] exercise by law.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Correspondence with James Madison, 1787
Natural rights can be limited or altered by law when exercised.
In simple terms: Law can modify natural rights.
Key Takeaway
Balance rights with societal rules.
Themes
law
rights
government
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- legislation
- court rulings
- public policy
Key Concepts
political theory
civil liberties
Questions to Reflect On
- When should law intervene in rights?
- What safeguards prevent abuse?
A Different Perspective
Over‑regulation can erode essential freedoms.
![“Some other natural rights... [have] not yet entered into any declaration of rights.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/742/thomas-jefferson-43_declaration_some-other-natural-rights-have-not-yet-e_1140718.jpg)
![“Natural rights [are] the objects for the protection of which society is formed and municipal laws established.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/292/thomas-jefferson-43_law_natural-rights-are-the-objects-for-the-p_2759873.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)
