American founding fathers Quote by Thomas Jefferson
![“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)
“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.”
About This Quote
The passage critiques religious coercion, claiming it creates a divided world of gullible followers and hypocritical elites, fostering deceit and error.
In simple terms: Religious pressure splits people into fools and hypocrites, spreading error.
Key Takeaway
Question authority and promote genuine belief.
Themes
religion
coercion
ethics
society
hypocrisy
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
ethical
political
When to use this quote
- education reform
- interfaith dialogue
- policy making
- media analysis
- community building
Key Concepts
political philosophy
morality
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does coercion affect moral development?
- What alternatives to coercion foster authentic belief?
A Different Perspective
It may oversimplify complex religious motivations and ignore positive aspects of faith.
![“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 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)
![“[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)
