--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who receives an idea from me, receives…" description: "\"“He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darke..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/thomas-jefferson-43_education_he-who-receives-an-idea-from-me-receives_1368514.jpg" --- # He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction… ![“He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. That ideas should freely spread from one to another over the globe, for the moral and mutual instruction of man, and improvement of his…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/thomas-jefferson-43_education_he-who-receives-an-idea-from-me-receives_1368514.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/thomas-jefferson-43_education_he-who-receives-an-idea-from-me-receives_1368514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/thomas-jefferson-43_education_he-who-receives-an-idea-from-me-receives_1368514.jpg) > ““He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. That ideas should freely spread from one to another over the globe, for the moral and mutual instruction of man, and improvement of his condition, seems to have been peculiarly and benevolently designed by nature, when she made them, like fire, expansible over all space, without lessening their density in any point, and like the air in which we breathe, move, and have our physical being, incapable of confinement or exclusive appropriation.”” [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. Sharing ideas spreads knowledge without diminishing the source; ideas are like fire and air—expansive and non‑exclusive. **In simple terms:** Ideas grow when shared, losing nothing. Key Takeaway Share knowledge freely. Themes education collaboration freedom Mood optimistic inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - teaching - teamwork - public policy - community building Key Concepts philosophy social theory Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure ideas are used responsibly? - What barriers prevent free exchange? A Different Perspective Ideas can be misused if shared indiscriminately. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benevolently Designed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benevolently-designed-3921931/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Idea Receives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-receives-4706410/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ideas Freely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-freely-720028/) [Intellectual property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual-property/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Mutual Instruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual-instruction-4706411/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Receives Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/receives-idea-4706409/) ## Related quotes > [That ideas should freely spread from one to another over the globe, for the moral and mutual instruction of man, and improvement of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-ideas-should-freely-spread-from-one-to-another-over-the-globe-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If NATURE has made any one thing less susceptible than all others of exclusive property, it is the action of the thinking power called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-nature-has-made-any-one-thing-less-susceptible-than-all-others-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/he-who-receives-an-idea-from-me-receives-instruction-himself-without-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“That ideas should freely spread from one to another over the globe, for the moral and mutual instruction of man, and improvement of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/that-ideas-should-freely-spread-from-one-to-another-over-the-globe/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [They say that negative things like stress, anxiety, tension, sorrow, and depression "squeeze the tube" so ideas don't flow through it. But if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/they-say-that-negative-things-like-stress-anxiety-tension-sorrow-and/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [There is a way up to the skies, up to the stars, up to the beyond, up the eternity. That way is creating a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/there-is-a-way-up-to-the-skies-up-to-the-stars-up-to-the-beyond-up/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Place your stake in the ground, Intellectual Property is the lifestyle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/place-your-stake-in-the-ground-intellectual-property-is-the-lifestyle/) [Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/) > [Throughout history, musicians have never counted on intellectual property really getting them rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/throughout-history-musicians-have-never-counted-on-intellectual/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [You cannot steal somebody's intellectual property. Law and justice protect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/you-cannot-steal-somebody-s-intellectual-property-law-and-justice/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [There is no such thing as intellectual property.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/there-is-no-such-thing-as-intellectual-property/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [“structure of the social division of labor. Many firms and industries must make fundamental changes to long-held business models in order to adapt. Further,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-von-hippel/structure-of-the-social-division-of-labor-many-firms-and-industries/) [Eric von Hippel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-von-hippel/) > [I am not in favour of the takeover of excellent and strategically important British companies by struggling foreign firms whose actions are fuelled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sainsbury-baron-sainsbury-of-turville/i-am-not-in-favour-of-the-takeover-of-excellent-and-strategically/) [David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sainsbury-baron-sainsbury-of-turville/) > [If you talk privately to our tech companies, our pharmaceutical companies, our high-end manufacturing companies, the high end of America, where the good-paying jobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/if-you-talk-privately-to-our-tech-companies-our-pharmaceutical/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [Owning the intellectual property is like owning land: You need to keep investing in it again and again to get a payoff; you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/owning-the-intellectual-property-is-like-owning-land-you-need-to-keep/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [Corporately contrived art product replaces inspired intellectual property with ineffectual poperty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-bonta/corporately-contrived-art-product-replaces-inspired-intellectual/) [Vanna Bonta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-bonta/) ## 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... 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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 Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. 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