--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have always said that a studious…" description: "\"I have always said that a studious perusal of the sacred volume will make better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands.\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a28/thomas-jefferson-43_bible_i-have-always-said-that-a-studious-perus_1262513.jpg" --- # I have always said that a studious perusal of the sacred… ![“I have always said that a studious perusal of the sacred volume will make better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a28/thomas-jefferson-43_bible_i-have-always-said-that-a-studious-perus_1262513.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a28/thomas-jefferson-43_bible_i-have-always-said-that-a-studious-perus_1262513.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a28/thomas-jefferson-43_bible_i-have-always-said-that-a-studious-perus_1262513.jpg) > “I have always said that a studious perusal of the sacred volume will make better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands.” [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. He believes education in sacred texts creates better citizens, fathers, and husbands. **In simple terms:** Reading holy books improves society. Key Takeaway Promote moral education. Themes education morality family Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - parenting - public policy - curriculum design Key Concepts civic virtue religion gender roles Questions to Reflect On - What texts should be taught? - How to respect diverse beliefs? A Different Perspective Assumes all share same religious values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-citizens-1786035/) [Better Fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-fathers-845976/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Bible reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible-reading/) [Biblical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biblical/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Fathers Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fathers-better-2993431/) [Husband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Sacred Volume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred-volume-1299050/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Studious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studious/) [Studious Perusal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studious-perusal-4019033/) [Volume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/volume/) ## Related quotes > [I've read all the books but one Only remains sacred: this Volume of wonders, open Always before my eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-raine/i-ve-read-all-the-books-but-one-only-remains-sacred-this-volume-of/) [Kathleen Raine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-raine/) > [I'm not saying that men make better fathers than women do mothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/i-m-not-saying-that-men-make-better-fathers-than-women-do-mothers/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [For rarely are sons similar to their fathers: most are worse, and a few are better than their fathers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/for-rarely-are-sons-similar-to-their-fathers-most-are-worse-and-a-few/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [To be as good as our fathers we must be better, imitation is not discipleship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/to-be-as-good-as-our-fathers-we-must-be-better-imitation-is-not/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [It is not that fathers are better or worse, not that they are more loved or criticized, but rather that they are viewed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/it-is-not-that-fathers-are-better-or-worse-not-that-they-are-more/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [We learn from our fathers so that we can be better than them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arron-retsehcnam/we-learn-from-our-fathers-so-that-we-can-be-better-than-them/) [Arron Retsehcnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arron-retsehcnam/) > [To be as good as our fathers, we must be better. Imitation is not discipleship. When some one sent a cracked plate to China…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/to-be-as-good-as-our-fathers-we-must-be-better-imitation-is-not-2/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [Lincoln was not an intellectual, but no one in 200 years understood the language of the King James Bible or learned Blackstone's Laws of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/lincoln-was-not-an-intellectual-but-no-one-in-200-years-understood/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [Politics has always been a mud fight - better that citizens jump in the trough than lose interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-poniewozik/politics-has-always-been-a-mud-fight-better-that-citizens-jump-in-the/) [James Poniewozik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-poniewozik/) > [“A State can be no better than the citizens of which it is composed. Our labour now is not to mould States but make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/a-state-can-be-no-better-than-the-citizens-of-which-it-is-composed/) [voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“History isn’t just something that ought to be taught, read, or encouraged only because it will make us better citizens. It will make us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/history-isn-t-just-something-that-ought-to-be-taught-read-or/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [There is a growing evidence that arts education improves student learning and thereby produces better citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-skorton/there-is-a-growing-evidence-that-arts-education-improves-student/) [David J. Skorton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-skorton/) > [We will all be better citizens when voting records of our Congressmen are followed as carefully as scores of pro-football games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erickson/we-will-all-be-better-citizens-when-voting-records-of-our-congressmen/) [Louise Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erickson/) > [The evidence shows if you give people security, they become better people. They develop their talents. They become better citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/the-evidence-shows-if-you-give-people-security-they-become-better/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [Of course we all know people who aren't cut out for college, but I know it's a mistake to think of education only as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mead/of-course-we-all-know-people-who-aren-t-cut-out-for-college-but-i/) [Rebecca Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mead/) ## 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 Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) [Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/) > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) [Robert A. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-peterson/) > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) [Stephen Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-taylor/) > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) [Walsham How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walsham-how/) > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have always said that a studious perusal of the sacred volume will make better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-always-said-that-a-studious-perusal-of-the-sacred-volume-will/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bible" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-always-said-that-a-studious-perusal-of-the-sacred-volume-will/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a28/thomas-jefferson-43_bible_i-have-always-said-that-a-studious-perus_1262513.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a28/thomas-jefferson-43_bible_i-have-always-said-that-a-studious-perus_1262513.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a28/thomas-jefferson-43_bible_i-have-always-said-that-a-studious-perus_1262513.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have always said that a studious perusal of the sacred volume will make better citizens, better fathers…” — Thomas Jefferson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas Jefferson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have always said that a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-always-said-that-a-studious-perusal-of-the-sacred-volume-will/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-always-said-that-a-studious-perusal-of-the-sacred-volume-will/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```