--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a nation expects to be ignorant and…" description: "\"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/thomas-jefferson-43_civilization_if-a-nation-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-f_871519.jpg" --- # If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of… ![“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/thomas-jefferson-43_civilization_if-a-nation-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-f_871519.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/thomas-jefferson-43_civilization_if-a-nation-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-f_871519.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/thomas-jefferson-43_civilization_if-a-nation-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-f_871519.jpg) > “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” [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. Freedom cannot coexist with ignorance; a truly free society must be educated and informed. **In simple terms:** Freedom requires knowledge, not ignorance. Key Takeaway Promote education to sustain liberty. Themes freedom ignorance education civilization Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical political When to use this quote - schools - public policy - media literacy - community forums - civic education Key Concepts social contract democratic theory civic responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What measures ensure education reaches all? - How do we balance freedom with necessary governance? A Different Perspective Idealistic view may overlook practical constraints of universal education. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Civilization Expects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization-expects-958266/) [Expects Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expects-ignorant-270972/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant/) [Ignorant Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant-free-270974/) [Nation Expects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-expects-270973/) [State Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-civilization-958267/) ## Related quotes > [If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and will never be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-a-nation-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-free-in-a-state-of-3/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“A nation which expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, expects that which never was and never will be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-nation-which-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-free-in-a-state-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. —THOMAS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-a-nation-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-free-in-a-state-of-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If a nation expects to be ignorant & free, in a state of civilisation, it expects what never was & never will be. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-a-nation-expects-to-be-ignorant-free-in-a-state-of-civilisation-it/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it expects what never was and never will be ... The People cannot be safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-a-nation-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-free-it-expects-what-never-was-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [If a nation expects to be ignorant and free it expects what never was and never will be!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-a-nation-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-free-it-expects-what-never-was/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Those who expect to be both ignorant and free, expect what never was and never will be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/those-who-expect-to-be-both-ignorant-and-free-expect-what-never-was/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [You can tell the state of civilization by the way people dress. If the people who fought two World Wars came back to 2010…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-guinness/you-can-tell-the-state-of-civilization-by-the-way-people-dress-if-the/) [Daphne Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-guinness/) > [Any nation that expects to be ignorant and free," Jefferson said, "expects what never was and never will be." And if the gap between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/any-nation-that-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-free-jefferson-said/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [no people can be both ignorant and free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/no-people-can-be-both-ignorant-and-free/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Those who wish to be ignorant and free, believe in something that never was and never shall be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/those-who-wish-to-be-ignorant-and-free-believe-in-something-that/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“It is one thing to be free; to be ignorant and free is to be imprisoned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-croan/it-is-one-thing-to-be-free-to-be-ignorant-and-free-is-to-be-imprisoned/) [M.J. Croan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-croan/) > [A nation that expects the government to prevent churches from burning, to control the price of bread or gasoline, to secure every job, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-niskanen/a-nation-that-expects-the-government-to-prevent-churches-from-burning/) [William A. Niskanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-niskanen/) > [We are a small nation that nobody expects anything of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/we-are-a-small-nation-that-nobody-expects-anything-of/) [Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/) > [The exploration of space will go ahead, whether we join in it or not, and it is one of the great adventures of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-exploration-of-space-will-go-ahead-whether-we-join-in-it-or-not/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## 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 Civilization quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. 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Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [We released 400,000 classified documents, the most extraordinary history of a war to ever have been released in our civilization. Those documents cover 109,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/we-released-400-000-classified-documents-the-most-extraordinary/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Whenever we touch nature we get clean. 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