--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Knowing that religion does not furnish…" description: "\"Knowing that religion does not furnish grosser bigots than law, I expect little from old judges.\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9a/thomas-jefferson-43_bigots_knowing-that-religion-does-not-furnish-g_407943.jpg" --- # Knowing that religion does not furnish grosser bigots than… ![“Knowing that religion does not furnish grosser bigots than law, I expect little from old judges.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9a/thomas-jefferson-43_bigots_knowing-that-religion-does-not-furnish-g_407943.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9a/thomas-jefferson-43_bigots_knowing-that-religion-does-not-furnish-g_407943.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9a/thomas-jefferson-43_bigots_knowing-that-religion-does-not-furnish-g_407943.jpg) > “Knowing that religion does not furnish grosser bigots than law, I expect little from old judges.” [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. Jefferson doubts that religion and law produce equally extreme bigots, so he trusts judges little. **In simple terms:** Religion and law both can breed bigotry; judges may be biased. Key Takeaway Question judges critically. Themes skepticism law judiciary Mood cautious analytical Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - court decisions - legislative drafting - public policy - ethical debates Key Concepts Enlightenment secularism Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure judicial impartiality? - What safeguards protect against bias? A Different Perspective Judges may still act impartially despite personal beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bigots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigots/) [Bigots Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigots-law-3643972/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Expect Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expect-little-589323/) [Judges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judges/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Expect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-expect-3643971/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Old Judges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-judges-3573103/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [In Italy the censor is very old and there are many judges and psychiatrists who analyse you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-argento/in-italy-the-censor-is-very-old-and-there-are-many-judges-and/) [Dario Argento](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-argento/) > [People expect too much. People who expect heaven always fall into hell - that is the law. Expect heaven and hell is certain. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/people-expect-too-much-people-who-expect-heaven-always-fall-into-hell/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The Gothic idea that we were to look backwards instead of forwards for the improvement of the human mind, and to recur to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-gothic-idea-that-we-were-to-look-backwards-instead-of-forwards/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The juries are our judges of all fact, and of law when they choose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-juries-are-our-judges-of-all-fact-and-of-law-when-they-choose-it/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [As, for the safety of society, we commit honest maniacs to Bedlam, so judges should be withdrawn from their bench, whose erroneous biases are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/as-for-the-safety-of-society-we-commit-honest-maniacs-to-bedlam-so/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Our judges are as honest as other men and not more so. They have, with others, the same passions for party, for power, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-judges-are-as-honest-as-other-men-and-not-more-so-they-have-with/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [We can't always expect great things from great men; but we must always expect little things from little men!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-can-t-always-expect-great-things-from-great-men-but-we-must-always/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I know of nobody that is coming, I am sure, unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in- and I am sure my dinners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/i-know-of-nobody-that-is-coming-i-am-sure-unless-charlotte-lucas/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [“When we choose to be different, we have to expect a little attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-grossman/when-we-choose-to-be-different-we-have-to-expect-a-little-attention/) [Nancy Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-grossman/) > [We get disappointed if we expect too much out of a person or expect too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bulumko-pantsi/we-get-disappointed-if-we-expect-too-much-out-of-a-person-or-expect/) [Bulumko Pantsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bulumko-pantsi/) > [No one really expects me to do anything offensively. But I expect a little more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-hardy/no-one-really-expects-me-to-do-anything-offensively-but-i-expect-a/) [J. J. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-hardy/) > [It's always great when you're able to give fans what they expect and even a little more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/it-s-always-great-when-you-re-able-to-give-fans-what-they-expect-and/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Never expect anything in return from anyone But the truth is... When we really LOVE someone We naturally EXPECT a little care from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel/never-expect-anything-in-return-from-anyone-but-the-truth-is-when-we/) [Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel/) > [People Say: Never Expect Anything In Return From Anyone But The Truth Is, When We Really LOVE Some One, We Naturally Expect A Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/people-say-never-expect-anything-in-return-from-anyone-but-the-truth/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Rina’s always claimed that I expect too little from life,” Standard said. “Then at least you’ll never be disappointed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-sallis/rina-s-always-claimed-that-i-expect-too-little-from-life-standard/) [James Sallis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-sallis/) ## 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 Bigots quotes > [I found from working on the film that I am a bigot, at times. And that I am also a coward, at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/i-found-from-working-on-the-film-that-i-am-a-bigot-at-times-and-that/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [These days I am a teetotal, mean-spirited, right-wing, narrow-minded, conservative Christian bigot, but not a racist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-russell/these-days-i-am-a-teetotal-mean-spirited-right-wing-narrow-minded/) [Jane Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-russell/) > [Religion doesn't make people bigots. People are bigots and they use religion to justify their ideology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reza-aslan/religion-doesn-t-make-people-bigots-people-are-bigots-and-they-use/) [Reza Aslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reza-aslan/) > [“But the bigots always see those whom they hate as morally corrupt, as if they confuse their own aesthetics of disgust and fear with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-duncan/but-the-bigots-always-see-those-whom-they-hate-as-morally-corrupt-as/) [Hal Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-duncan/) > [“Don’t become bigoted about bigots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ross/don-t-become-bigoted-about-bigots/) [Scott Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ross/) > [“Apes throw tantrum when they are insecure, pursuit of delusion soothes the vegetated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/apes-throw-tantrum-when-they-are-insecure-pursuit-of-delusion-soothes/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Bigots often like to say they're the ones being hurt as they oppress and hurt others. Never fall for the 'pity the privileged' routine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/bigots-often-like-to-say-they-re-the-ones-being-hurt-as-they-oppress/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [We should not allow the fundamentalists and the bigots to take over and speak for the great faiths any more than we should let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/we-should-not-allow-the-fundamentalists-and-the-bigots-to-take-over/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [What concerns me most is the horrible degradation our notions of truth, civility, and decency have undergone. Also the way that language has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/what-concerns-me-most-is-the-horrible-degradation-our-notions-of/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“• They travel in tight circles of likeminded people. • Their thinking is more likely based on what authorities have told them rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/they-travel-in-tight-circles-of-likeminded-people-their-thinking-is/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) > [Being no bigot myself, I am disposed to indulge the professors of Christianity in the church that road to heaven which to them shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/being-no-bigot-myself-i-am-disposed-to-indulge-the-professors-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“First, they came for the bigots, and I said nothing, because I didn’t believe I was a bigot, then…it was really nice, it turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/first-they-came-for-the-bigots-and-i-said-nothing-because-i-didn-t/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [“No travel can broaden a bigoted mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/no-travel-can-broaden-a-bigoted-mind/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“There will always be another war, Gillia.” He allowed his cynicism to seep through. “Do you know why? Because there will always be bigots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-s-carnes/there-will-always-be-another-war-gillia-he-allowed-his-cynicism-to/) [V.S. Carnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-s-carnes/) > [I never sensed really bad blood between Microsoft and Apple. 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