--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of all the systems of morality, ancient…" description: "\"Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus…I am a real Christi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/thomas-jefferson-43_ancient_of-all-the-systems-of-morality-ancient-o_2004588.jpg" --- # Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which… ![“Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus…I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/thomas-jefferson-43_ancient_of-all-the-systems-of-morality-ancient-o_2004588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/thomas-jefferson-43_ancient_of-all-the-systems-of-morality-ancient-o_2004588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/thomas-jefferson-43_ancient_of-all-the-systems-of-morality-ancient-o_2004588.jpg) > “Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus…I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus.” [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. Jesus’s teachings represent a pure moral system for the author. **In simple terms:** Jesus’s teachings seen as pure morality. Key Takeaway Consider moral teachings of Jesus. Themes morality religion purity faith philosophy Mood contemplative spiritual historical Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal faith - ethical debates - historical analysis - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts theology ethical philosophy historical perspective Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of Jesus’s teachings resonate with you? - How do you define moral purity? A Different Perspective Interpretations vary across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Disciple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disciple/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [I am a real Christian - that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-a-real-christian-that-is-to-say-a-disciple-of-the-doctrines-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am a real Christian, that is to say, a cisciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-a-real-christian-that-is-to-say-a-cisciple-of-the-doctrines-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Had the doctrines of Jesus been preached always as pure as they came from his lips, the whole civilized world would now have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/had-the-doctrines-of-jesus-been-preached-always-as-pure-as-they-came/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Paul was the first corrupter of the doctrines of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/paul-was-the-first-corrupter-of-the-doctrines-of-jesus/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I consider the doctrines of Jesus as delivered by himself to contain the outlines of the sublimest system of morality that has ever been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-consider-the-doctrines-of-jesus-as-delivered-by-himself-to-contain/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The truth is, that the greatest enemies to the doctrines of Jesus are those, calling themselves the expositors of them, who have perverted them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-truth-is-that-the-greatest-enemies-to-the-doctrines-of-jesus-are/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The doctrines of Jesus are simple and tend all to the happiness of man, that there is only one God and God is perfect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-doctrines-of-jesus-are-simple-and-tend-all-to-the-happiness-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend to all the happiness of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-doctrines-of-jesus-are-simple-and-tend-to-all-the-happiness-of-man/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [One of the underlying things I like to do in books, is just say, stop and look at this for a moment. Not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/one-of-the-underlying-things-i-like-to-do-in-books-is-just-say-stop/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [All Jesus' pictures are falsifications; they cannot be about the real Jesus. This real man must have been totally different, because we know he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/all-jesus-pictures-are-falsifications-they-cannot-be-about-the-real/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Stop looking for the path of least resistance and start running down the path of greatest glory to God and good to others, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/stop-looking-for-the-path-of-least-resistance-and-start-running-down/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [There's no way you could convince me today that Jesus is not real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/there-s-no-way-you-could-convince-me-today-that-jesus-is-not-real/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [Jesus was a real person. He continues to be a real person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-roumie/jesus-was-a-real-person-he-continues-to-be-a-real-person/) [Jonathan Roumie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-roumie/) > [“There is an obvious Great Disparity between, on the one hand, the hope for life expressed in Jesus—found real in the Bible and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/there-is-an-obvious-great-disparity-between-on-the-one-hand-the-hope/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The sense of being alone is a huge issue for so many people in this world. As a worshipper of Jesus, there's a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-redman/the-sense-of-being-alone-is-a-huge-issue-for-so-many-people-in-this/) [Matt Redman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-redman/) ## 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 Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. 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If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [Science has revealed a universe that is vast, ancient, violent, strange, and beautiful, a universe of almost infinite variety and possibility one in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/science-has-revealed-a-universe-that-is-vast-ancient-violent-strange/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) [Browse all 2,415 Ancient quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus…I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/of-all-the-systems-of-morality-ancient-or-modern-which-have-come/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ancient" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/of-all-the-systems-of-morality-ancient-or-modern-which-have-come/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/thomas-jefferson-43_ancient_of-all-the-systems-of-morality-ancient-o_2004588.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/thomas-jefferson-43_ancient_of-all-the-systems-of-morality-ancient-o_2004588.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/thomas-jefferson-43_ancient_of-all-the-systems-of-morality-ancient-o_2004588.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me…” — 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": "Of all the systems of morality,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/of-all-the-systems-of-morality-ancient-or-modern-which-have-come/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/of-all-the-systems-of-morality-ancient-or-modern-which-have-come/#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 } } ] } ```