Earth Quote by Thomas Jefferson
![“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)
“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 we wish others to indulge it while we refuse it ourselves.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1798
Coercion creates division and hypocrisy; free inquiry and reason are essential for a just society.
In simple terms: Coercion divides; reason unites.
Key Takeaway
Promote reason and free inquiry.
Themes
politics
ethics
freedom of speech
Mood
thoughtful
inspiring
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legislative debates
- educational reform
- public discourse
Key Concepts
philosophy
democracy
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies protect free inquiry?
- What role does reason play in resolving conflict?
A Different Perspective
Reason alone may not overcome entrenched power structures.
![“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)
![“[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)
