--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No provision in our Constitution ought to…" description: "\"No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the civil autho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/thomas-jefferson-43_america_no-provision-in-our-constitution-ought-t_980241.jpg" --- # No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man… ![“No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the civil authority.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/thomas-jefferson-43_america_no-provision-in-our-constitution-ought-t_980241.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/thomas-jefferson-43_america_no-provision-in-our-constitution-ought-t_980241.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/thomas-jefferson-43_america_no-provision-in-our-constitution-ought-t_980241.jpg) > “No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the civil authority.” [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. Constitution should prioritize protecting individual conscience over governmental power. **In simple terms:** Protect conscience against government overreach. Key Takeaway Defend personal conscience. Themes law rights government Mood serious thoughtful Type philosophical political When to use this quote - court cases - policy debates - human advocacy Key Concepts individual liberty conscience civil authority Questions to Reflect On - What limits should government have on conscience? - How to protect conscience without harming others? A Different Perspective Balancing rights with public safety can be complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enterprise/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) ## Related quotes > [That provision in the constitution which requires that the president shall be a native-born citizen (unless he were a citizen of the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-george-tucker/that-provision-in-the-constitution-which-requires-that-the-president/) [St. George Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-george-tucker/) > [Nothing that we have authorized conflicts with any law regarding privacy or any provision of the constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ashcroft/nothing-that-we-have-authorized-conflicts-with-any-law-regarding/) [John Ashcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ashcroft/) > [From a constitutional standpoint, the religion of a candidate is supposed to make no difference. Even before the founding fathers dreamed up the First…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/from-a-constitutional-standpoint-the-religion-of-a-candidate-is/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [The provision of the Constitution giving the war making power to Congress was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons: Kings had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-provision-of-the-constitution-giving-the-war-making-power-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If the end be clearly comprehended within any of the specified powers, and if the measure have an obvious relation to that end, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/if-the-end-be-clearly-comprehended-within-any-of-the-specified-powers/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [To answer the purpose of the adversaries of the Constitution, they ought to prove, not merely that particular provisions in it are not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/to-answer-the-purpose-of-the-adversaries-of-the-constitution-they/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Waiving the rights of conscience, not included in the surrender implied by the social state, & more or less invaded by all Religious establishments,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/waiving-the-rights-of-conscience-not-included-in-the-surrender/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [ \[O\]ur rules can have authority over such natural rights only as we have submitted to them. 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If this principle be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-principle-of-the-constitution-is-that-of-a-separation-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“But our rulers can have authority over such natural rights only as we have submitted to them. The rights of conscience we never submitted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/but-our-rulers-can-have-authority-over-such-natural-rights-only-as-we/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“...legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/legitimate-powers-of-government-reach-actions-only-not-opinions-i/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Our goals can only be achieved with a society that respects and equally protects the rights of every human being, old and young, rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/our-goals-can-only-be-achieved-with-a-society-that-respects-and/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [We believe in the individual. Government protects our rights as individuals and our rights as property owners. We come together as a community to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trish-regan/we-believe-in-the-individual-government-protects-our-rights-as/) [Trish Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trish-regan/) > [The system we have is one that protects my rights under a president I don't approve. That tomorrow we'll do the same for you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/the-system-we-have-is-one-that-protects-my-rights-under-a-president-i/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) ## 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 America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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