--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Among the sayings and discourses imputed…" description: "\"Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him (i.e. Jesus) by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/thomas-jefferson-43_absurdity_among-the-sayings-and-discourses-imputed_165441.jpg" --- # Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him (i.e… ![“Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him (i.e. Jesus) by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of the most lovely benevolence; and others again of so much ignorance, so much absurdity, so much untruth, charlatanism, and imposture, as to pronounce…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/thomas-jefferson-43_absurdity_among-the-sayings-and-discourses-imputed_165441.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/thomas-jefferson-43_absurdity_among-the-sayings-and-discourses-imputed_165441.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/thomas-jefferson-43_absurdity_among-the-sayings-and-discourses-imputed_165441.jpg) > “Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him (i.e. Jesus) by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of the most lovely benevolence; and others again of so much ignorance, so much absurdity, so much untruth, charlatanism, and imposture, as to pronounce it impossible that such contradictions should have proceeded from the same being.” [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. Biographers attribute both noble and flawed statements to Jesus, creating a paradox of character. **In simple terms:** Stories about Jesus contain both admirable and contradictory claims. Key Takeaway Question the consistency of historical portrayals. Themes faith history contradiction critical thinking Mood skeptical reflective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - religious study - historical analysis - personal belief formation Key Concepts biography mythmaking moral evaluation Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile conflicting accounts? - What evidence supports each view? A Different Perspective Contradictions may stem from biased sources or mythic embellishment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurdity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurdity/) [American founding fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-founding-fathers/) [Benevolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benevolence/) [Christian morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-morality/) [Christian right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-right/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christianity from founding fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity-from-founding-fathers/) [Church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-and-state/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Contradictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradictions/) [Discourse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discourse/) [Founding fathers of america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founding-fathers-of-america/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Morality and religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality-and-religion/) [Organized religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organized-religion/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-truth/) [Separation between church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-between-church-and-state/) [Separation of church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-church-and-state/) [Untruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/untruth/) ## Related quotes > [ “...it is not to be understood that I am with him \[Jesus\] in all his doctrines. I am a Materialist, he takes the side… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-not-to-be-understood-that-i-am-with-him-jesus-in-all-his/) [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/) > [The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-legitimate-powers-of-government-extend-to-such-acts-only-as-are-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The legislative powers of government reach actions only and not opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-legislative-powers-of-government-reach-actions-only-and-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [People come to have different moral beliefs because they have different non-moral beliefs about relevant facts. People are disposed to believe whatever justifies the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/people-come-to-have-different-moral-beliefs-because-they-have/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [We can tolerate great diversity in our aesthetic beliefs, but we can't tolerate much diversity in our moral beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/we-can-tolerate-great-diversity-in-our-aesthetic-beliefs-but-we-can-t/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [“A whole lot of us go through life assuming that we are basically right, basically all the time, about basically everything: about our political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/a-whole-lot-of-us-go-through-life-assuming-that-we-are-basically/) [Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/) > [While I think in principle people should not have irrational beliefs, I should say that as a matter of fact, it is people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/while-i-think-in-principle-people-should-not-have-irrational-beliefs/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“You can decide to forgo any ethical deliberations and simply embrace the moral beliefs and norms you inherited from your family and culture. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-vaughn/you-can-decide-to-forgo-any-ethical-deliberations-and-simply-embrace/) Lewis Vaughn > [I am frankly sick and tired of the political preachers telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/i-am-frankly-sick-and-tired-of-the-political-preachers-telling-me-as/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Should our moral beliefs really prove to be dependent on factual assumptions shown to be incorrect, it would be hardly moral to defend them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/should-our-moral-beliefs-really-prove-to-be-dependent-on-factual/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [If we want to understand the distinctive constitution of Europe, we must go back to its religious foundations. For the moral beliefs which Christianity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-siedentop/if-we-want-to-understand-the-distinctive-constitution-of-europe-we/) Larry Siedentop > [Believe those who seek the truth, doubt those who find it; doubt all, but do not doubt yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/believe-those-who-seek-the-truth-doubt-those-who-find-it-doubt-all/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [“In that context, I find theistic evolution, or BioLogos, to be by far the most scientifically consistent and spiritually satisfying of the alternatives. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-s-collins/in-that-context-i-find-theistic-evolution-or-biologos-to-be-by-far/) [Francis S. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-s-collins/) > [The meaning of religious truth is hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-tarkovsky/the-meaning-of-religious-truth-is-hope/) [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-tarkovsky/) ## 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. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... 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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 Absurdity quotes > [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. 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"Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Such squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity are not worth a regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/such-squeamish-youths-as-cannot-bear-to-be-connected-with-a-little/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Thought of the incomprehensible sequence of changes and chances that make up a life, all the beauties and horrors and absurdities whose conjunctions create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/thought-of-the-incomprehensible-sequence-of-changes-and-chances-that/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns so that no one will say: lines on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-live-inside-the-terrible-engine-of-authority-and-it-grinds-and/) [Catherynne M. 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