--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is of great importance to set a…" description: "\"It is of great importance to set a resolution, not to be shaken, never to tell an untruth. There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/thomas-jefferson-43_easier_it-is-of-great-importance-to-set-a-resol_764027.jpg" --- # It is of great importance to set a resolution, not to be… ![“It is of great importance to set a resolution, not to be shaken, never to tell an untruth. There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time, till at length it becomes habitual.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/thomas-jefferson-43_easier_it-is-of-great-importance-to-set-a-resol_764027.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/thomas-jefferson-43_easier_it-is-of-great-importance-to-set-a-resol_764027.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/thomas-jefferson-43_easier_it-is-of-great-importance-to-set-a-resol_764027.jpg) > “It is of great importance to set a resolution, not to be shaken, never to tell an untruth. There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time, till at length it becomes habitual.” [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. Emphasizes the importance of steadfastness and honesty, warning that small lies lead to habitual deceit. **In simple terms:** Stay firm and truthful; small lies become habits. Key Takeaway Guard integrity, avoid small lies. Themes integrity honesty self-discipline Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - political leadership - legal testimony Key Concepts moral psychology habit formation Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure honesty under pressure? - What habits protect your integrity? A Different Perspective Even minor falsehoods can erode trust over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Resolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolution/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Untruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/untruth/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) ## Related quotes > [Lying is a crime the least liable to variation in its definitions. A child will upon the slightest temptation tell an untruth as readily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-priestley/lying-is-a-crime-the-least-liable-to-variation-in-its-definitions-a/) [Joseph Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-priestley/) > [“Whatever you tell; lie or truth, can both destroy or save you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/whatever-you-tell-lie-or-truth-can-both-destroy-or-save-you/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [By oft repeating an untruth, men come to believe it themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/by-oft-repeating-an-untruth-men-come-to-believe-it-themselves/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Rogueries, absurdities and untruths were perpetrated upon the teachings of Jesus by a large band of dupes and importers led by Paul, the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/rogueries-absurdities-and-untruths-were-perpetrated-upon-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ “...it is not to be understood that I am with him \[Jesus\] in all his doctrines. I am a Materialist, he takes the side… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-not-to-be-understood-that-i-am-with-him-jesus-in-all-his/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and third time, till at length…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/he-who-permits-himself-to-tell-a-lie-once-finds-it-much-easier-to-do-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [He who made us would have been a pitiful bungler, if he had made the rules of our moral conduct a matter of science.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/he-who-made-us-would-have-been-a-pitiful-bungler-if-he-had-made-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it the second time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/he-who-permits-himself-to-tell-a-lie-once-finds-it-much-easier-to-do/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him (i.e. Jesus) by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/among-the-sayings-and-discourses-imputed-to-him-i-e-jesus-by-his/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Jimmy says he'll never tell a lie. 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EARS CAN HEAR BAD…… EYES ARE ALWAYS TELLS TRUE…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shany-mathew/tongue-can-tell-lie-hands-can-do-wrong-ears-can-hear-bad-eyes-are/) SHANY MATHEW > [“Believe me when I tell you that there is no lie quite so obvious as the one where you try to protest that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-slater/believe-me-when-i-tell-you-that-there-is-no-lie-quite-so-obvious-as/) [nigel slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-slater/) > [There is only one sin. and that is theft... when you tell a lie, you steal someones right to the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-only-one-sin-and-that-is-theft-when-you-tell-a-lie-you-steal/) [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 Easier quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. 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