Age Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“It is comfortable to see the standard of reason at length erected, after so many ages, during which the human mind has been held in vassalage by kings, priests, and nobles; and it is honorable for us to have produced the first legislature who had the courage to declare that the reason of man may be trusted with the formation of his own opinions.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Correspondence with James Madison, 1795
He celebrates the emergence of a legislature that trusts human reason over traditional authority.
In simple terms: Reason now guides law instead of kings or priests.
Key Takeaway
Value reason in governance.
Themes
politics
reason
liberation
law
Mood
hopeful
analytical
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- civic education
- policy debates
- public speaking
- community organizing
Key Concepts
enlightenment
human autonomy
constitutional development
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens ensure reason guides leaders?
- What safeguards protect against irrational policies?
A Different Perspective
Reason alone may not prevent misuse of power.
![“[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)
