--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a principle that the right to a…" description: "\"It is a principle that the right to a thing gives a right to the means without which it could not be used, that is to say, that the means follow their ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/thomas-jefferson-43_ends_it-is-a-principle-that-the-right-to-a-th_3084638.jpg" --- # It is a principle that the right to a thing gives a right… ![“It is a principle that the right to a thing gives a right to the means without which it could not be used, that is to say, that the means follow their end.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/thomas-jefferson-43_ends_it-is-a-principle-that-the-right-to-a-th_3084638.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/thomas-jefferson-43_ends_it-is-a-principle-that-the-right-to-a-th_3084638.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/thomas-jefferson-43_ends_it-is-a-principle-that-the-right-to-a-th_3084638.jpg) > “It is a principle that the right to a thing gives a right to the means without which it could not be used, that is to say, that the means follow their end.” [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. A right to something includes the right to the means necessary to use it. **In simple terms:** Ownership implies access to essential tools. Key Takeaway Secure means to fulfill rights. Themes property rights philosophy law Mood analytical critical Type philosophical legal When to use this quote - home ownership - business assets - education resources Key Concepts natural rights instrumentalism Questions to Reflect On - Do you have the tools to exercise your rights? - What barriers limit your access? A Different Perspective Rights without means are ineffective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Inalienable rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inalienable-rights/) [Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [My principle is to do whatever is right, and leave the consequences to Him who has the disposal of them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-principle-is-to-do-whatever-is-right-and-leave-the-consequences-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I deny the right of Congress to force a slaveholding State upon an unwilling people. I deny their right to force a free State…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-douglas/i-deny-the-right-of-congress-to-force-a-slaveholding-state-upon-an/) [Stephen A. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-douglas/) > [The right to use a thing comprehends a right to the means necessary to its use, and without which it would be useless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-right-to-use-a-thing-comprehends-a-right-to-the-means-necessary/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [I'm glad my name stands for the principle that everyone has the right to force the government to justify his imprisonment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakhdar-boumediene/i-m-glad-my-name-stands-for-the-principle-that-everyone-has-the-right/) Lakhdar Boumediene > [I believe each individual is naturally entitled to do as he pleases with himself and the fruit of his labor, so far as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-believe-each-individual-is-naturally-entitled-to-do-as-he-pleases/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The principle was right there - you couldn't miss it. The more we did for our customers, the more they did for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/the-principle-was-right-there-you-couldn-t-miss-it-the-more-we-did/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [ Of distinction by birth or badge, \[Americans\] had no more idea than they had of the mode of existence in the moon or planets.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/of-distinction-by-birth-or-badge-americans-had-no-more-idea-than-they/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In a government bottomed on the will of all, the... liberty of every individual citizen becomes interesting to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/in-a-government-bottomed-on-the-will-of-all-the-liberty-of-every/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Law is often the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/law-is-often-the-tyrant-s-will-and-always-so-when-it-violates-the/) [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 inalienable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In America, no other distinction between man and man had ever been known but that of persons in office exercising powers by authority of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/in-america-no-other-distinction-between-man-and-man-had-ever-been/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [An equal application of law to every condition of man is fundamental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/an-equal-application-of-law-to-every-condition-of-man-is-fundamental/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Out of our first century of national life we evolved the ethical principle that it was not right or just that an honest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-perkins/out-of-our-first-century-of-national-life-we-evolved-the-ethical/) [Frances Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-perkins/) > [Rise above principle and do what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rise-above-principle-and-do-what-is-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Ends quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The end is nothing; the road is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-end-is-nothing-the-road-is-all/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [it is the brevity of life which makes it tolerable; its experiences have value because they have an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/it-is-the-brevity-of-life-which-makes-it-tolerable-its-experiences/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you were left the only one faithful; bring your offering even then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/believe-to-the-end-even-if-all-men-went-astray-and-you-were-left-the/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) Browse all 20,790 Ends quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is a principle that the right to a thing gives a right to the means without which it could not be used, that is to say, that the means follow their end.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-a-principle-that-the-right-to-a-thing-gives-a-right-to-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ends" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-a-principle-that-the-right-to-a-thing-gives-a-right-to-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/thomas-jefferson-43_ends_it-is-a-principle-that-the-right-to-a-th_3084638.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/thomas-jefferson-43_ends_it-is-a-principle-that-the-right-to-a-th_3084638.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/thomas-jefferson-43_ends_it-is-a-principle-that-the-right-to-a-th_3084638.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is a principle that the right to a thing gives a right to the means without which it could not be used…” — 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": "It is a principle that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-a-principle-that-the-right-to-a-thing-gives-a-right-to-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-a-principle-that-the-right-to-a-thing-gives-a-right-to-the/#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 } } ] } ```