--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Conquest is not in our principles. It is…" description: "\"Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government.\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/thomas-jefferson-43_conquest_conquest-is-not-in-our-principles-it-is_1941176.jpg" --- # Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with… ![“Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/thomas-jefferson-43_conquest_conquest-is-not-in-our-principles-it-is_1941176.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/thomas-jefferson-43_conquest_conquest-is-not-in-our-principles-it-is_1941176.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/thomas-jefferson-43_conquest_conquest-is-not-in-our-principles-it-is_1941176.jpg) > “Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government.” [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. The nation should not pursue conquest because it conflicts with republican principles and threatens liberty. **In simple terms:** Conquest opposes republican values. Key Takeaway Uphold non‑aggressive foreign policy. Themes politics principles non‑aggression Mood serious reflective Type historical political When to use this quote - foreign policy debates - military interventions - national identity Key Concepts republicanism ethics Questions to Reflect On - Is conquest ever justified for security? - How can a republic maintain safety without aggression? A Different Perspective Security concerns may pressure expansion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquest/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [ No religious reading, instruction or exercise, shall be prescribed or practiced \[in the elementary schools\] inconsistent with the tenets of any religious sect or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/no-religious-reading-instruction-or-exercise-shall-be-prescribed-or/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The natural aristocracy I consider as the most precious gift of nature for the instruction, the trusts, and government of society. And indeed it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-natural-aristocracy-i-consider-as-the-most-precious-gift-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ It is a problem, not clear in my mind, that \[a society without government, as among our Indians\] is not the best. But I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-a-problem-not-clear-in-my-mind-that-a-society-without/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I never did, or countenanced, in public life, a single act inconsistent with the strictest good faith; having never believed there was one code…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-never-did-or-countenanced-in-public-life-a-single-act-inconsistent/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [If we move in mass, be it ever so circuitously, we shall attain our object; but if we break into squads, everyone pursuing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-we-move-in-mass-be-it-ever-so-circuitously-we-shall-attain-our/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [We did not raise armies for glory or for conquest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-did-not-raise-armies-for-glory-or-for-conquest/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [We cannot consistently behave in a way that is inconsistent with our beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/we-cannot-consistently-behave-in-a-way-that-is-inconsistent-with-our/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The best principles of our republic secure to all its citizens a perfect equality of rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-best-principles-of-our-republic-secure-to-all-its-citizens-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Principle will, in... most... cases open the way for us to correct conclusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/principle-will-in-most-cases-open-the-way-for-us-to-correct-conclusion/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It's hard to be consistent in an inconsistent environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-poole/it-s-hard-to-be-consistent-in-an-inconsistent-environment/) [Jordan Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-poole/) > [The point is this: If God does not exist, then life is objectively meaningless; but man cannot live consistently and happily knowing that life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/the-point-is-this-if-god-does-not-exist-then-life-is-objectively/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [I was born to love - but none of you wanted to believe it, and that misunderstanding was crucial in forming my character. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/i-was-born-to-love-but-none-of-you-wanted-to-believe-it-and-that/) [George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/) > [Science has sometimes been said to be opposed to faith, and inconsistent with it. But all science, in fact, rests on a basis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/science-has-sometimes-been-said-to-be-opposed-to-faith-and/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Everything about Washington is inconsistent, because they say one thing and do another, which is what my opponent, Claire McCaskill, is very, very good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-steelman/everything-about-washington-is-inconsistent-because-they-say-one/) [Sarah Steelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-steelman/) > [For a lot of women, one of the hardest things about leadership is the desire to be liked by everyone. That's often inconsistent with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weddington/for-a-lot-of-women-one-of-the-hardest-things-about-leadership-is-the/) [Sarah Weddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weddington/) ## 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... 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 Conquest quotes > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [Politics...You see, it depends on what kind of politics. What we did during my father's generation was a duty. And it was beautiful because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/politics-you-see-it-depends-on-what-kind-of-politics-what-we-did/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [If love is the quest, then marriage is the conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-love-is-the-quest-then-marriage-is-the-conquest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We must not forget that what I mean by the conquest of the world by spiritual thought is the sending out of the life-giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-must-not-forget-that-what-i-mean-by-the-conquest-of-the-world-by/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Any piece of knowledge which the pupil has himself acquired- any problem which he has himself solved, becomes, by virtue of the conquest, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/any-piece-of-knowledge-which-the-pupil-has-himself-acquired-any/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [I have visited sweatshops, factories, and crowded slums. If I could not see it, I could smell it. The foundation of society is laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-have-visited-sweatshops-factories-and-crowded-slums-if-i-could-not/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [It is in meeting the great tests that mankind can most successfully rise to great heights. Out of danger and restless insecurity comes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-is-in-meeting-the-great-tests-that-mankind-can-most-successfully/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [By the age of three, the child has already laid down the foundations of his personality as a human being, and only then does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/by-the-age-of-three-the-child-has-already-laid-down-the-foundations/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [I refer to the misunderstanding of Soviet Russia as an aggressive power, militaristically and ideologically bent upon world domination 'seeing', to quote a recent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enoch-powell/i-refer-to-the-misunderstanding-of-soviet-russia-as-an-aggressive/) [Enoch Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enoch-powell/) > [At length weariness succeeds to labor, and the mind lies at ease in the contemplation of her own attainments without any desire of new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/at-length-weariness-succeeds-to-labor-and-the-mind-lies-at-ease-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The film The Conquest will be seen on many different levels and the American point of view is always more technical. The French are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-durringer/the-film-the-conquest-will-be-seen-on-many-different-levels-and-the/) [Xavier Durringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-durringer/) > [Misgovernment is of four kinds, often in combination. They are: 1) tyranny or oppression, of which history provides so many well-known examples that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/misgovernment-is-of-four-kinds-often-in-combination-they-are-1/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [In scientific thought, the concept functions all the better for being cut off from all background images. In its full exercise, the scientific concept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-bachelard/in-scientific-thought-the-concept-functions-all-the-better-for-being/) [Gaston Bachelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-bachelard/) > [There must be a law if there is to be liberty. 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