--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A single zealot may commence prosecutor…" description: "\"A single zealot may commence prosecutor, and better men be his victims.\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/thomas-jefferson-43_better-man_a-single-zealot-may-commence-prosecutor_2084779.jpg" --- # A single zealot may commence prosecutor, and better men be… ![“A single zealot may commence prosecutor, and better men be his victims.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/thomas-jefferson-43_better-man_a-single-zealot-may-commence-prosecutor_2084779.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/thomas-jefferson-43_better-man_a-single-zealot-may-commence-prosecutor_2084779.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/thomas-jefferson-43_better-man_a-single-zealot-may-commence-prosecutor_2084779.jpg) > “A single zealot may commence prosecutor, and better men be his victims.” [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A zealous individual can start legal actions, often harming better people. **In simple terms:** Zealots can cause trouble for good people. Key Takeaway Beware of extreme zeal. Themes justice zeal victimhood Mood cautionary reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - court cases - political activism - social movements Key Concepts legal process social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is zeal beneficial? - How to prevent zealotry from harming innocents? A Different Perspective Zeal can also drive positive change; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-man/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) [Zeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zeal/) [Zealot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zealot/) ## Related quotes > [In the fevered state of our country, no good can ever result from any attempt to set one of these fiery zealots to rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/in-the-fevered-state-of-our-country-no-good-can-ever-result-from-any/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Being myself a warm zealot for the attainment & enjoiment by all mankind of as much liberty as each may exercise without injury to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/being-myself-a-warm-zealot-for-the-attainment-enjoiment-by-all/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A person with noble soul will never cease ignoring the provocation. The nobility of his soul is the only answer to these intrigues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-person-with-noble-soul-will-never-cease-ignoring-the-provocation/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Even if a lie has hundred nipples, none of them gives milk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/even-if-a-lie-has-hundred-nipples-none-of-them-gives-milk/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [I am for gay marriage. Or same-sex marriage. I don't want to say it the wrong way. 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It is remarkable how often the greatest zealots for God, the Church, and sound doctrine (as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hodge/true-zeal-is-connected-with-a-holy-life-it-is-remarkable-how-often/) [Charles Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hodge/) > [Subconsciously it is possible to act, consciously it is possible to decide and overconsciously to create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/subconsciously-it-is-possible-to-act-consciously-it-is-possible-to/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A noble person stands up as though a theater curtain rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-noble-person-stands-up-as-though-a-theater-curtain-rises/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) ## More by Thomas Jefferson > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/perceiving-the-order-of-nature-to-be-that-individual-happiness-shall/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. 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The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-but-free-argument-raillery-and-even-ridicule-will-preserve/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-people-are-afraid-of-the-government-that-s-tyranny-but-when/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Explore all 2,098 Thomas Jefferson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More Better man quotes > [If I were a boy, I think I could understand how it feels to love a girl..I swear I'll be a better man :-/](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-were-a-boy-i-think-i-could-understand-how-it-feels-to-love-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do not think it is permitted that a better man be harmed by a worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-do-not-think-it-is-permitted-that-a-better-man-be-harmed-by-a-worse/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I should've been a better man instead of wasting my time spending my life searching for the finer things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/i-should-ve-been-a-better-man-instead-of-wasting-my-time-spending-my/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [“I think so. You’re saying that God’s putting me through this fire so He can make me a better man.” “Yes. The problem is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-h-westall/i-think-so-you-re-saying-that-god-s-putting-me-through-this-fire-so/) [Jennifer H. Westall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-h-westall/) > [“The knuckles of his hand that had Shaw's name inked across them caught my eye. I pointed to them. "You have her with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/the-knuckles-of-his-hand-that-had-shaw-s-name-inked-across-them/) [Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/) > [It is a great mistake to think that the extremist is a better man than the moderate. Usually the difference is not that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-think-that-the-extremist-is-a-better-man/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“I've had recurring nightmares that I was loved for who I am...and missed the opportunity to be a better man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muse/i-ve-had-recurring-nightmares-that-i-was-loved-for-who-i-am-and/) [Muse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muse/) > [I shall state silences more competently than ever a better man spangled the butterflies of vertigo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/i-shall-state-silences-more-competently-than-ever-a-better-man/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“That morning, lying with the woman I loved, a silent promise was formed in my head. I was going to be a better man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/that-morning-lying-with-the-woman-i-loved-a-silent-promise-was-formed/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [I'm better than your next man and if you're swingin' like you're dumber than the next man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-weeknd/i-m-better-than-your-next-man-and-if-you-re-swingin-like-you-re/) [The Weeknd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-weeknd/) > [He’s playing every bit as hard as I am, only he knows what he’s doing and I don’t. Don’t blame me because he’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/he-s-playing-every-bit-as-hard-as-i-am-only-he-knows-what-he-s-doing/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [“Gentlemen, Admiral Lord Nelson wrote, of the officers aft on the quarterdeck and the seamen of the fo’c’sle: ‘Aft the most honour—forward the better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-stockwin/gentlemen-admiral-lord-nelson-wrote-of-the-officers-aft-on-the/) Julian Stockwin > [“But both courses are to be avoided; you should not copy the bad simply because they are many, nor should you hate the many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/but-both-courses-are-to-be-avoided-you-should-not-copy-the-bad-simply/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“Any thought that you are better or less Than another man Quickly Breaks the wine Glass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ladinsky/any-thought-that-you-are-better-or-less-than-another-man-quickly/) [Daniel Ladinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ladinsky/) > [Remember 'beauty is in GODS EYES' YOU ALL ARE BEAUTIFUL, but only you control your health, I'm not perfect but I'm striving to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remember-beauty-is-in-gods-eyes-you-all-are-beautiful-but-only-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 390 Better man quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-man/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A single zealot may commence prosecutor, and better men be his victims.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-single-zealot-may-commence-prosecutor-and-better-men-be-his-victims/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Better man" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-single-zealot-may-commence-prosecutor-and-better-men-be-his-victims/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/thomas-jefferson-43_better-man_a-single-zealot-may-commence-prosecutor_2084779.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/thomas-jefferson-43_better-man_a-single-zealot-may-commence-prosecutor_2084779.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/thomas-jefferson-43_better-man_a-single-zealot-may-commence-prosecutor_2084779.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A single zealot may commence prosecutor, and better men be his victims.” — Thomas Jefferson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas Jefferson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A single zealot may commence prosecutor,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-single-zealot-may-commence-prosecutor-and-better-men-be-his-victims/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-single-zealot-may-commence-prosecutor-and-better-men-be-his-victims/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```