--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dissent is the highest form of…" description: "\"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism. [Misattributed]\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/thomas-jefferson-43_dissent_dissent-is-the-highest-form-of-patriotis_1867064.jpg" --- # Dissent is the highest form of patriotism. \[Misattributed\] ![“Dissent is the highest form of patriotism. [Misattributed]” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/thomas-jefferson-43_dissent_dissent-is-the-highest-form-of-patriotis_1867064.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/thomas-jefferson-43_dissent_dissent-is-the-highest-form-of-patriotis_1867064.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/thomas-jefferson-43_dissent_dissent-is-the-highest-form-of-patriotis_1867064.jpg) > “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism. \[Misattributed\]” [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 statement claims that dissent is the ultimate patriotic act, suggesting criticism is a sign of love for country. **In simple terms:** Dissent shows deep patriotism. Key Takeaway Value constructive criticism. Themes politics patriotism free speech Mood reflective critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - public debate - policy reform - activism Key Concepts civic duty critical engagement Questions to Reflect On - When is dissent counterproductive? - How can dissent be channeled positively? A Different Perspective Patriotism can be expressed through support as well. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dissent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissent/) [Dissent Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissent-highest-697981/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Form Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form-patriotism-697980/) [Freedom of speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-speech/) [Highest form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest-form/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Patriotism Misattributed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism-misattributed-2551117/) ## Related quotes > [Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/dissent-is-the-highest-form-of-patriotism/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [During President George W. Bush's two terms, you couldn't drive far without seeing a particular bumper sticker: Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-crowley/during-president-george-w-bush-s-two-terms-you-couldn-t-drive-far/) [Monica Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-crowley/) > [If what your country is doing seems to you practically and morally wrong, is dissent the highest form of patriotism?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/if-what-your-country-is-doing-seems-to-you-practically-and-morally/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [During President George W. Bush's two terms, you couldn't drive far without seeing a particular bumper sticker: 'Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-crowley/during-president-george-w-bush-s-two-terms-you-couldn-t-drive-far-2/) [Monica Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-crowley/) > [The highest form of patriotism is dissent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/the-highest-form-of-patriotism-is-dissent/) [Matthew Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/) > [Dissent is the highest form of patriotism, and I intend to continue to push my country to respect the rights of all its citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-sarsour/dissent-is-the-highest-form-of-patriotism-and-i-intend-to-continue-to/) [Linda Sarsour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-sarsour/) > [“That community is already in the process of dissolution where each man begins to eye his neighbor as a possible enemy, where non-conformity with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-community-is-already-in-the-process-of-dissolution-where-each/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-peculiar-evil-of-silencing-the-expression-of-an-opinion-is-that/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [“Pick a leader who will make their citizens proud. One who will stir the hearts of the people, so that the sons and daughters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/pick-a-leader-who-will-make-their-citizens-proud-one-who-will-stir/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Truth affirms freedom of speech. Putin is no friend of reli - freedom of speech. Putin is an enemy of freedom of religion. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/truth-affirms-freedom-of-speech-putin-is-no-friend-of-reli-freedom-of/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/to-announce-that-there-must-be-no-criticism-of-the-president-or-that/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“Any government's condemnation of terrorism is only credible if it shows itself to be responsive to persistent, reasonable, closely argued, non-violent dissent. And yet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/any-government-s-condemnation-of-terrorism-is-only-credible-if-it/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Our patriotism comes straight from the Romans. This is why French children are encouraged to seek inspiration for it in Corneille. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/our-patriotism-comes-straight-from-the-romans-this-is-why-french/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [For a writer only one form of patriotism exists: his attitude toward language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/for-a-writer-only-one-form-of-patriotism-exists-his-attitude-toward/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [In the wake of Katrina, what you're witnessing and what we are very careful to depict is a form of patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/in-the-wake-of-katrina-what-you-re-witnessing-and-what-we-are-very/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) ## 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 Dissent quotes > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you want to live a meaningfully better life, you're going to have to make the dangerous choice to dissent. A life lived meaningfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/if-you-want-to-live-a-meaningfully-better-life-you-re-going-to-have/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/never-be-afraid-to-raise-your-voice-for-honesty-and-truth-and/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [I find myself frequently placed where I dare give neither assent nor dissent to propositions that are submitted to me; for there is danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/i-find-myself-frequently-placed-where-i-dare-give-neither-assent-nor/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [The original crime of niggers and lesbians is that they prefer themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-original-crime-of-niggers-and-lesbians-is-that-they-prefer/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [It is dissent from government policies which defines the true Patriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/it-is-dissent-from-government-policies-which-defines-the-true-patriot/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [In America, you can segregate the people, but the problems will travel. From slavery to equal rights, from state suppression of dissent to crime,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people-but-the-problems-will-travel/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [America was born of revolt, flourished in dissent, became great through experimentation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-steele-commager/america-was-born-of-revolt-flourished-in-dissent-became-great-through/) [Henry Steele Commager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-steele-commager/) > [“I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/i-am-aware-that-many-object-to-the-severity-of-my-language-but-is/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [In religion, it is not the sycophants or those who cling most faithfully to the status quo who are ultimately praised. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/in-religion-it-is-not-the-sycophants-or-those-who-cling-most/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [“Protection, therefore, against tyranny of the magistrate is not enough: there needs protection also against the tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling; against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/protection-therefore-against-tyranny-of-the-magistrate-is-not-enough/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [The intolerant man will not rely on persuasion, or on the worth of the idea. He would deny to others the very freedom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/the-intolerant-man-will-not-rely-on-persuasion-or-on-the-worth-of-the/) [Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/) > [“That there must be heresies is true, not onely in our Church, but also in any other; even in Doctrines hereticall there will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/that-there-must-be-heresies-is-true-not-onely-in-our-church-but-also/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [In sum, the Court's conclusion that a constitutionally adequate recount is impractical is a prophecy the Court's own judgment will not allow to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/in-sum-the-court-s-conclusion-that-a-constitutionally-adequate/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [Lonely dissent doesn't feel like going to school dressed in black. It feels like going to school wearing a clown suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/lonely-dissent-doesn-t-feel-like-going-to-school-dressed-in-black-it/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) [Browse all 440 Dissent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism. 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