--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No person shall be restrained of his…" description: "\"No person shall be restrained of his liberty but by regular process from a court of justice, authorized by a general law. . . . On complaint of an unla..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/thomas-jefferson-43_being-responsible_no-person-shall-be-restrained-of-his-lib_1150671.jpg" --- # No person shall be restrained of his liberty but by… ![“No person shall be restrained of his liberty but by regular process from a court of justice, authorized by a general law. . . . On complaint of an unlawful imprisonment to any judge whatsoever, he shall have the prisoner immediately brought before him and shall discharge him if his imprisonment be…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/thomas-jefferson-43_being-responsible_no-person-shall-be-restrained-of-his-lib_1150671.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/thomas-jefferson-43_being-responsible_no-person-shall-be-restrained-of-his-lib_1150671.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/thomas-jefferson-43_being-responsible_no-person-shall-be-restrained-of-his-lib_1150671.jpg) > “No person shall be restrained of his liberty but by regular process from a court of justice, authorized by a general law. . . . On complaint of an unlawful imprisonment to any judge whatsoever, he shall have the prisoner immediately brought before him and shall discharge him if his imprisonment be unlawful. The officer in whose custody the prisoner is shall obey the order of the judge, and both judge and officer shall be responsible civilly and criminally for a failure of duty herein.” [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. Guarantees liberty only to be limited by lawful judicial process, mandating immediate judicial review of unlawful detention. **In simple terms:** Freedom requires lawful due process. Key Takeaway Demand due process rights. Themes law justice civil liberties government accountability Mood serious authoritative Type legal philosophical When to use this quote - court hearings - police encounters - detention reviews - legislative debates Key Concepts constitutional law human rights judicial oversight Questions to Reflect On - How can societies ensure swift judicial review? - What safeguards prevent abuse of power? A Different Perspective Implementation can be hindered by systemic bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-responsible/) [Complaints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complaints/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Custody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/custody/) [Discharge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discharge/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Imprisonment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imprisonment/) [Imprisonment Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imprisonment-judge-3250407/) [Imprisonment Unlawful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imprisonment-unlawful-3250406/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Officers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/officers/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Prisoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisoner/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible/) [Shall Restrained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shall-restrained-3250408/) [Unlawful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlawful/) [Unlawful Imprisonment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlawful-imprisonment-3250405/) ## Related quotes > [The people shall not be restrained from peacefully assembling and consulting for their common good, nor from applying to the legislature by petitions, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-people-shall-not-be-restrained-from-peacefully-assembling-and/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [It is unlawful to add anything to the words of Holy Scripture regarding the sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/it-is-unlawful-to-add-anything-to-the-words-of-holy-scripture/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [He is not of us who is not affectionate to the little ones, and does not respect the old; and he is not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad/he-is-not-of-us-who-is-not-affectionate-to-the-little-ones-and-does/) [Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad/) > [“And I thought kitty liter was the unlawful practice of discarding small felines along the roadside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-morrissette/and-i-thought-kitty-liter-was-the-unlawful-practice-of-discarding/) [Robert J. Morrissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-morrissette/) > [Wouldst thou know the lawfulness of the action which thou desirest to undertake, let thy devotion recommend it to Divine blessing: if it be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/wouldst-thou-know-the-lawfulness-of-the-action-which-thou-desirest-to/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Intervention in Syria is not an option. President Obama has already helped foment this civil war and supported the al-Qaeda jihadists. This is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/intervention-in-syria-is-not-an-option-president-obama-has-already/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [It is strange that a person may find it easy to protect himself from: eating Haraam, oppression and injustice, adultery, theft, drinking khamr (alcoholic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-taymiyyah/it-is-strange-that-a-person-may-find-it-easy-to-protect-himself-from/) [Ibn Taymiyyah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-taymiyyah/) > [Even if we don't have a precise idea of exactly what took place at the beginning, we can at least see that the origin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/even-if-we-don-t-have-a-precise-idea-of-exactly-what-took-place-at/) [Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/) > [It is difficult for me to talk about some of these things without reliving the extreme emotions and loss one always feels for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/it-is-difficult-for-me-to-talk-about-some-of-these-things-without/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [The first step into the realm of giving is...not manward but Godward: an utter yielding of our best. So long as our idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilias-trotter/the-first-step-into-the-realm-of-giving-is-not-manward-but-godward-an/) [Lilias Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilias-trotter/) > [If cruelty is no longer declared unlawful, but instead is applied as a matter of policy, it alters the fundamental relationship of man to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-j-mora/if-cruelty-is-no-longer-declared-unlawful-but-instead-is-applied-as-a/) [Alberto J. Mora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-j-mora/) > [President Barack Obama's decision to provide amnesty for hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens under the DACA program was unlawful, and the court interfered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fitton/president-barack-obama-s-decision-to-provide-amnesty-for-hundreds-of/) [Tom Fitton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fitton/) > [In addition, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act provides protection for those in the firearms industry from lawsuits arising out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-ney/in-addition-the-protection-of-lawful-commerce-in-arms-act-provides/) [Bob Ney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-ney/) > [I was always unlawful; I broke the law when I was born because my parents weren't married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-was-always-unlawful-i-broke-the-law-when-i-was-born-because-my/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-only-way-to-get-rid-of-a-temptation-is-to-yield-to-it-resist-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## 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 Being responsible quotes > [We can only be responsible for what we ourselves do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-peterfreund/we-can-only-be-responsible-for-what-we-ourselves-do/) [Diana Peterfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-peterfreund/) > [I tried to just do things like make some money, be responsible, help out other artists who I see have had a similar path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-pink/i-tried-to-just-do-things-like-make-some-money-be-responsible-help/) [Ariel Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-pink/) > [Taxpayers would likely be responsible for treating addicts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warren-kindt/taxpayers-would-likely-be-responsible-for-treating-addicts/) [John Warren Kindt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warren-kindt/) > [I don't really think in terms of the future of literature. I think literature will be around "forever" - but in a relatively niche…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-don-t-really-think-in-terms-of-the-future-of-literature-i-think/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [This is a difference between being a governor and being in a legislature. Because when something doesn't work in New Jersey, they look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/this-is-a-difference-between-being-a-governor-and-being-in-a/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [I think labels for the most part want to sign new discoveries so that that label alone is seen to be responsible for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-morrissey/i-think-labels-for-the-most-part-want-to-sign-new-discoveries-so-that/) [Steven Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-morrissey/) > [Clean your freakin' fryer. Be responsible for Christ's sake!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-taffer/clean-your-freakin-fryer-be-responsible-for-christ-s-sake/) [Jon Taffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-taffer/) > [When a health policy analyst went to heaven, he asked God the same question: 'Will America ever have a single-payer system?' And God said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-altman/when-a-health-policy-analyst-went-to-heaven-he-asked-god-the-same/) [Stuart Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-altman/) > [I am involved with so many charitable organizations. Lung Cancer because of my dad, Breast Cancer because as a woman and mother of two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-robbins/i-am-involved-with-so-many-charitable-organizations-lung-cancer/) [Lois Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-robbins/) > [People want a grounded government. They want a government that's going to be responsible to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-paladino/people-want-a-grounded-government-they-want-a-government-that-s-going/) [Carl Paladino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-paladino/) > [It's much worse to see a woman drunk than a man: I don't know quite why this is true but it just is. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-much-worse-to-see-a-woman-drunk-than-a-man-i-don-t-know-quite/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [You cannot be responsible for Jim Crow. You can not be responsible for racism. This is much more a problem for the person exercising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/you-cannot-be-responsible-for-jim-crow-you-can-not-be-responsible-for/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [Let us be good stewards of the Earth we inherited. All of us have to share the Earth's fragile ecosystems and precious resources, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/let-us-be-good-stewards-of-the-earth-we-inherited-all-of-us-have-to/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [I think that today, more so than ever, corporate responsibility is the best strategic as well as financial path that most businesses can follow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-hollender/i-think-that-today-more-so-than-ever-corporate-responsibility-is-the/) [Jeffrey Hollender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-hollender/) > [If you recognize that self-driving cars are going to prevent car accidents, AI will be responsible for reducing one of the leading causes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/if-you-recognize-that-self-driving-cars-are-going-to-prevent-car/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) [Browse all 281 Being responsible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-responsible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No person shall be restrained of his liberty but by regular process from a court of justice, authorized by a general law. . . . 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