---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every society has a right to fix the…"
description: "\"Every society has a right to fix the fundamental principles of its association, and to say to all individuals, that if they contemplate pursuits beyond..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aee/thomas-jefferson-43_association_every-society-has-a-right-to-fix-the-fun_2057185.jpg"
---

#  Every society has a right to fix the fundamental…

![“Every society has a right to fix the fundamental principles of its association, and to say to all individuals, that if they contemplate pursuits beyond the limits of these principles and involving dangers which the society chooses to avoid, they must go somewhere else for their exercise; that we…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aee/thomas-jefferson-43_association_every-society-has-a-right-to-fix-the-fun_2057185.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aee/thomas-jefferson-43_association_every-society-has-a-right-to-fix-the-fun_2057185.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aee/thomas-jefferson-43_association_every-society-has-a-right-to-fix-the-fun_2057185.jpg)

> “Every society has a right to fix the fundamental principles of its association, and to say to all individuals, that if they contemplate pursuits beyond the limits of these principles and involving dangers which the society chooses to avoid, they must go somewhere else for their exercise; that we want no citizens, and still less ephemeral and pseudo-citizens, on such terms. We may exclude them from our territory, as we do persons infected with disease.”

[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.

Society may set core values and exclude those whose actions threaten those values, similar to quarantining disease.

**In simple terms:** Society can ban harmful behavior.

Key Takeaway

Enforce core values, limit dangerous pursuits.

Themes

law order citizenship exclusion public safety

Mood

cautious serious

Type

political ethical

When to use this quote

- political policy
- immigration law
- public health measures
- community standards

Key Concepts

social contract risk management collective security

Questions to Reflect On

- What limits should be placed on individual freedom?
- How to balance safety with inclusion?

A Different Perspective

Excluding dissent can suppress legitimate reform and minority rights.

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