--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our minds and hearts are free to believe…" description: "\"Our minds and hearts are free to believe everything or nothing at all - and it is our duty to protect and perpetuate this sacred culture of freedom.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/thomas-jefferson-43_believe_our-minds-and-hearts-are-free-to-believe_1051224.jpg" --- # Our minds and hearts are free to believe everything or… ![“Our minds and hearts are free to believe everything or nothing at all - and it is our duty to protect and perpetuate this sacred culture of freedom.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/thomas-jefferson-43_believe_our-minds-and-hearts-are-free-to-believe_1051224.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/thomas-jefferson-43_believe_our-minds-and-hearts-are-free-to-believe_1051224.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/thomas-jefferson-43_believe_our-minds-and-hearts-are-free-to-believe_1051224.jpg) > “Our minds and hearts are free to believe everything or nothing at all - and it is our duty to protect and perpetuate this sacred culture of freedom.” [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 of thought is essential; protecting it sustains a culture of liberty. **In simple terms:** Guard free thought. Key Takeaway Defend intellectual freedom. Themes freedom responsibility culture Mood reflective serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - schools - media - public policy - community forums - online platforms Key Concepts civil liberties ethical duty Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities come with free speech? - How to protect culture without stifling dissent? A Different Perspective Freedom can be misused to spread harmful ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart and mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-and-mind/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) ## Related quotes > [Those who wish to be ignorant and free, believe in something that never was and never shall be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/those-who-wish-to-be-ignorant-and-free-believe-in-something-that/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“As I see it, a person’s culture represents his appraisal of the things that make up his life. And a fellow becomes cultured, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-elias-disney/as-i-see-it-a-person-s-culture-represents-his-appraisal-of-the-things/) [Walt Elias Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-elias-disney/) > [Magical realism allows an artist like myself to inject layers of meaning without being obvious. In American culture, where there is freedom of expression,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-neshat/magical-realism-allows-an-artist-like-myself-to-inject-layers-of/) [Shirin Neshat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-neshat/) > [“The saddest instance of the lack of real freedom, arising from the lack of real knowledge, is revealed to us in Leo Tolstoy's latest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-turgenev/the-saddest-instance-of-the-lack-of-real-freedom-arising-from-the/) [Ivan Turgenev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-turgenev/) > [I believe it is my duty as a performer to raise issues in the world of things we're afraid to look at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-morton/i-believe-it-is-my-duty-as-a-performer-to-raise-issues-in-the-world/) [Samantha Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-morton/) > [I have lived with my husband more than I have with my parents... I live beside him, and know his worries, his hopes, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mozah-bint-nasser-al-missned/i-have-lived-with-my-husband-more-than-i-have-with-my-parents-i-live/) [Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mozah-bint-nasser-al-missned/) > [Faith is the result of the act of the will, following upon a conviction that to believe is a duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/faith-is-the-result-of-the-act-of-the-will-following-upon-a/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [Rod and I believe that it's our duty to set an example, which means teaching our children to treat others as they would wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-lancaster/rod-and-i-believe-that-it-s-our-duty-to-set-an-example-which-means/) [Penny Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-lancaster/) > [You have to be true to what you believe in and do your duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/you-have-to-be-true-to-what-you-believe-in-and-do-your-duty/) [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) > [My performance, I believe, is about my duty to the script, and my duty to the story that we're trying to tell, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/my-performance-i-believe-is-about-my-duty-to-the-script-and-my-duty/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [...Regardless, I still do not believe that your duty is to do as the people wish. Your duty is to lead as best you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/regardless-i-still-do-not-believe-that-your-duty-is-to-do-as-the/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [I believe it is the duty of each of us to act as if the fate of the world depended on him. Admittedly, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-it-is-the-duty-of-each-of-us-to-act-as-if-the-fate-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe that we have a duty to look frankly at the social conditions around us and to work to do what we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/i-believe-that-we-have-a-duty-to-look-frankly-at-the-social/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) > [It's my duty to fight those who have chosen to belong to the party of death, those who say they receive their orders from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/it-s-my-duty-to-fight-those-who-have-chosen-to-belong-to-the-party-of/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) > [I have always been generous because I know that I have done well in life and I believe it is part of my duty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/i-have-always-been-generous-because-i-know-that-i-have-done-well-in/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) ## 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 Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our minds and hearts are free to believe everything or nothing at all - and it is our duty to protect and perpetuate this sacred culture of freedom.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-minds-and-hearts-are-free-to-believe-everything-or-nothing-at-all/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-minds-and-hearts-are-free-to-believe-everything-or-nothing-at-all/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/thomas-jefferson-43_believe_our-minds-and-hearts-are-free-to-believe_1051224.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/thomas-jefferson-43_believe_our-minds-and-hearts-are-free-to-believe_1051224.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/thomas-jefferson-43_believe_our-minds-and-hearts-are-free-to-believe_1051224.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our minds and hearts are free to believe everything or nothing at all - and it is our duty to protect and…” — 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": "Our minds and hearts are free...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-minds-and-hearts-are-free-to-believe-everything-or-nothing-at-all/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-minds-and-hearts-are-free-to-believe-everything-or-nothing-at-all/#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 } } ] } ```