--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is (our) duty . . . to pay especial…" description: "\"It is (our) duty . . . to pay especial attention to the principles of government which shall be inculcated therein (at the University), and to provide ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/thomas-jefferson-43_attention_it-is-our-duty-to-pay-especial-attention_1064649.jpg" --- # It is (our) duty . . . to pay especial attention to the… ![“It is (our) duty . . . to pay especial attention to the principles of government which shall be inculcated therein (at the University), and to provide that none shall be inculcated which are incompatible with those on which the Constitutions of this State, and of the United States were genuinely…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/thomas-jefferson-43_attention_it-is-our-duty-to-pay-especial-attention_1064649.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/thomas-jefferson-43_attention_it-is-our-duty-to-pay-especial-attention_1064649.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/thomas-jefferson-43_attention_it-is-our-duty-to-pay-especial-attention_1064649.jpg) > “It is (our) duty . . . to pay especial attention to the principles of government which shall be inculcated therein (at the University), and to provide that none shall be inculcated which are incompatible with those on which the Constitutions of this State, and of the United States were genuinely based, in the common opinion; and for this purpose it may be necessary to point out specially where these principles are to be found legitimately developed.” [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 that university curricula must align with foundational governmental principles and avoid contradictory teachings. **In simple terms:** University teaching should match core government principles. Key Takeaway Ensure education reflects constitutional values. Themes education government constitution academia principles Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - public policy development - curriculum design - faculty hiring - student orientation Key Concepts civic education constitutional fidelity academic freedom Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions balance free inquiry with constitutional loyalty? - What mechanisms safeguard against incompatible teachings? A Different Perspective Balancing academic freedom with ideological conformity can be contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) ## Related quotes > [A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-wise-and-frugal-government-which-shall-restrain-men-from-injuring-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-wise-and-frugal-government-which-shall-leave-men-free-to-regulate/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [So confident am I in the intentions, as well as wisdom, of the government, that I shall always be satisfied that what is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/so-confident-am-i-in-the-intentions-as-well-as-wisdom-of-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-wise-and-frugal-government-which-shall-restrain-men-from-injuring/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When we come to the moral principles on which the government is to be administered, we come to what is proper for all conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-we-come-to-the-moral-principles-on-which-the-government-is-to-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ The diffusion of information and the arraignment of all abuses at the bar of public reason, I deem \[one of\] the essential principles of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-diffusion-of-information-and-the-arraignment-of-all-abuses-at-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The best commentary on the principles of government which has ever been written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-best-commentary-on-the-principles-of-government-which-has-ever/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The First Amendment has created a wall of separation between the church and the State. But that wall is one directional. It is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-first-amendment-has-created-a-wall-of-separation-between-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The people, especially when moderately instructed, are the only safe, because the only honest, depositaries of the public rights, and should therefore be introduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-people-especially-when-moderately-instructed-are-the-only-safe/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Freedom of the person under the protection of habeas corpus. I deem one of the essential principles of our government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/freedom-of-the-person-under-the-protection-of-habeas-corpus-i-deem/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“What we often fail to grasp is that “purpose” is as necessary in physical fitness as it is in every other activity of life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-amerland/what-we-often-fail-to-grasp-is-that-purpose-is-as-necessary-in/) [David Amerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-amerland/) > [Purpose is not necessary to make a building beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-johnson/purpose-is-not-necessary-to-make-a-building-beautiful/) [Philip Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-johnson/) > [Somehow I am necessary for God's purpose, as necessary in my place as an archangel in his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/somehow-i-am-necessary-for-god-s-purpose-as-necessary-in-my-place-as/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [Firmness of purpose is one of the most necessary sinews of character, and one of the best instruments of success. Without it, genius wastes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/firmness-of-purpose-is-one-of-the-most-necessary-sinews-of-character/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is an indescribable something that ties us to life. For this purpose, it is not necessary that we should be happy. Though our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/there-is-an-indescribable-something-that-ties-us-to-life-for-this/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) ## 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 Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is (our) duty . . . to pay especial attention to the principles of government which shall be inculcated therein (at the University), and to provide that none shall be inculcated which are incompatible with those on which the Constitutions of this State, and of the United States were genuinely based, in the common opinion; and for this purpose it may be necessary to point out specially where these principles are to be found legitimately developed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-our-duty-to-pay-especial-attention-to-the-principles-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-our-duty-to-pay-especial-attention-to-the-principles-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/thomas-jefferson-43_attention_it-is-our-duty-to-pay-especial-attention_1064649.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/thomas-jefferson-43_attention_it-is-our-duty-to-pay-especial-attention_1064649.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/thomas-jefferson-43_attention_it-is-our-duty-to-pay-especial-attention_1064649.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is (our) duty . . . to pay especial attention to the principles of government which shall be inculcated…” — 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 (our) duty . ....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-our-duty-to-pay-especial-attention-to-the-principles-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-our-duty-to-pay-especial-attention-to-the-principles-of/#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 } } ] } ```