American founding fathers Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity. 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.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Letter to John Adams, 1800
Coercive religion has created division, hypocrisy, and moral corruption rather than unity.
In simple terms: Religion used to force conformity harms society.
Key Takeaway
Question the use of force in belief systems.
Themes
religion
coercion
hypocrisy
human rights
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy making
- education reform
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
moral corruption
social division
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternatives to coercion promote true unity?
- How does power influence religious enforcement?
A Different Perspective
Coercion can sometimes unify under a common cause, complicating the critique.
![“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_coercion_what-has-been-the-effect-of-coercion-to_238945.jpg)
![“What has been the effect of [religious] coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e73/thomas-jefferson-43_american-founding-fa_what-has-been-the-effect-of-religious-co_3189614.jpg)
![“No religious reading, instruction or exercise, shall be prescribed or practiced [in the elementary schools] inconsistent with the tenets of any religious sect or denomination.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eaa/thomas-jefferson-43_christianity_no-religious-reading-instruction-or-exer_3186938.jpg)
![“[All religious sects] dread the advance of science as witches do the approach of daylight; and scowl on the fatal harbinger announcing the subversion of the duperies in which they live.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08c/thomas-jefferson-43_announcing_all-religious-sects-dread-the-advance-of_1053268.jpg)
![“There exists indeed an opposition to it [ building of UVA, Jefferson's secular college ] by the friends of William and Mary, which is not strong. The most restive is that of the priests of the different religious sects, who dread the advance of science as witches do the approach of day-light; and…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/74e/thomas-jefferson-43_clergy_there-exists-indeed-an-opposition-to-it_137072.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)
