--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No free man shall ever be debarred the…" description: "\"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/thomas-jefferson-43_arms_no-free-man-shall-ever-be-debarred-the-u_108012.jpg" --- # No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. ![“No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/thomas-jefferson-43_arms_no-free-man-shall-ever-be-debarred-the-u_108012.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/thomas-jefferson-43_arms_no-free-man-shall-ever-be-debarred-the-u_108012.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/thomas-jefferson-43_arms_no-free-man-shall-ever-be-debarred-the-u_108012.jpg) > “No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.” [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 includes the right to bear arms; any restriction on that right is incompatible with true liberty. **In simple terms:** Arms are essential to personal liberty. Key Takeaway Gun ownership is a liberty safeguard. Themes freedom rights arms political philosophy Mood assertive principled Type political ideological When to use this quote - constitutional debate - self‑defense planning - civil‑rights activism Key Concepts natural rights theory Practical Applications - Advocate for balanced gun legislation - Educate citizens on responsible ownership Questions to Reflect On - How should societies balance individual arm rights with collective security? - What defines a 'free man' in modern contexts? A Different Perspective Rights may be limited when they threaten public safety or other rights. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Free man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-man/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Shall Debarred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shall-debarred-1290632/) [Use Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-arms-835544/) ## Related quotes > [No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/no-freeman-shall-be-debarred-the-use-of-arms/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Every free man has a right to the use of the press, so he has to the use of his arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tench-coxe/every-free-man-has-a-right-to-the-use-of-the-press-so-he-has-to-the/) [Tench Coxe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tench-coxe/) > [Here's a guy who can use his arms and legs at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/here-s-a-guy-who-can-use-his-arms-and-legs-at-the-same-time/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [“He is a free man, not because is in a poition of political power and influence that you will never be able to achieve,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-meekins/he-is-a-free-man-not-because-is-in-a-poition-of-political-power-and/) [Evan Meekins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-meekins/) > [Can you please crawl out your window? Use your arms and your legs, it won't ruin you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/can-you-please-crawl-out-your-window-use-your-arms-and-your-legs-it/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [The danger (where there is any) from armed citizens, is only to the \*government\*, not to \*society\*; and as long as they have nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/the-danger-where-there-is-any-from-armed-citizens-is-only-to-the/) [Joel Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-barlow/) > [To play the drums, you have to spread your legs and use your arms. It's a very physical instrument to play. It's not feminine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-schemel/to-play-the-drums-you-have-to-spread-your-legs-and-use-your-arms-it-s/) [Patty Schemel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-schemel/) > [To trust arms in the hands of the people at large has, in Europe, been believed...to be an experiment fraught only with danger. Here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-dwight-v/to-trust-arms-in-the-hands-of-the-people-at-large-has-in-europe-been/) [Timothy Dwight V](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-dwight-v/) > [To be honest I'm not a defender who uses their arm so much. You have a lot of defenders who use their arms and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/to-be-honest-i-m-not-a-defender-who-uses-their-arm-so-much-you-have-a/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [You are powerful. Sorry. Hate to be the bearer of bad news. You are. You can continue arm wrestling with yourself, or you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/you-are-powerful-sorry-hate-to-be-the-bearer-of-bad-news-you-are-you/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [There are many advantages in their being accustomed to the use of arms, and no possible disadvantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-barlow/there-are-many-advantages-in-their-being-accustomed-to-the-use-of/) [Joel Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-barlow/) > [Free men do not ask permission to bear arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-men-do-not-ask-permission-to-bear-arms/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Where the press is free and every man able to read, all is safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/where-the-press-is-free-and-every-man-able-to-read-all-is-safe/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The free man never thinks of escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/the-free-man-never-thinks-of-escape/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [The free man is a warrior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-free-man-is-a-warrior/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## 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 Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) [Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/no-free-man-shall-ever-be-debarred-the-use-of-arms/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/no-free-man-shall-ever-be-debarred-the-use-of-arms/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/thomas-jefferson-43_arms_no-free-man-shall-ever-be-debarred-the-u_108012.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/thomas-jefferson-43_arms_no-free-man-shall-ever-be-debarred-the-u_108012.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/thomas-jefferson-43_arms_no-free-man-shall-ever-be-debarred-the-u_108012.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.” — 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": "No free man shall ever be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/no-free-man-shall-ever-be-debarred-the-use-of-arms/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/no-free-man-shall-ever-be-debarred-the-use-of-arms/#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 } } ] } ```