--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our people shall be free" description: "\"Our people shall be free\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/thomas-jefferson-43_free_our-people-shall-be-free-2358329_2358329.jpg" --- # Our people shall be free ![“Our people shall be free” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/thomas-jefferson-43_free_our-people-shall-be-free-2358329_2358329.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/thomas-jefferson-43_free_our-people-shall-be-free-2358329_2358329.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/thomas-jefferson-43_free_our-people-shall-be-free-2358329_2358329.jpg) > “Our people shall be free” [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 is a fundamental right that should be granted to all individuals. **In simple terms:** People deserve liberty. Key Takeaway Champion liberty for everyone. Themes freedom rights equality Mood hopeful determined Type political inspirational When to use this quote - civil rights movements - legal reforms - education on civic duties - international diplomacy Key Concepts political philosophy human rights Questions to Reflect On - How do we ensure freedom for marginalized groups? - What responsibilities come with freedom? A Different Perspective Freedom can be limited by societal structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-shall-272593/) [Shall Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shall-free-368014/) ## Related quotes > [All persons shall have full and free liberty of religious opinion; nor shall any be compelled to frequent or maintain any religious institution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/all-persons-shall-have-full-and-free-liberty-of-religious-opinion-nor/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The interests of the States... ought to be made joint in every possible instance in order to cultivate the idea of our being one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-interests-of-the-states-ought-to-be-made-joint-in-every-possible/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [We shall be free only together, black and white. We shall survive only together, black and white. We can be human only together, black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-shall-be-free-only-together-black-and-white-we-shall-survive-only/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [If the union of these States, and the liberties of this people, shall be lost, it is but little to any one man of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-the-union-of-these-states-and-the-liberties-of-this-people-shall/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The press of this countrty is now and always has been so thoroughly dominated by the wealthy few of the country that it cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-scripps/the-press-of-this-countrty-is-now-and-always-has-been-so-thoroughly/) [E. W. Scripps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-scripps/) > [No people and no part of a people shall be held against its will in a political association that it does not want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/no-people-and-no-part-of-a-people-shall-be-held-against-its-will-in-a/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [“Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each others welfare, social justice can never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/until-the-great-mass-of-the-people-shall-be-filled-with-the-sense-of-2/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Peace must be framed on so equitable a basis, that the nations would not wish to disturb it . . . so that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lloyd-george/peace-must-be-framed-on-so-equitable-a-basis-that-the-nations-would/) [David Lloyd George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lloyd-george/) > [“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-rather-for-us-to-be-here-dedicated-to-the-great-task-remaining/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-here-highly-resolve-that-these-dead-shall-not-have-died-in-vain/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other's welfare, social justice can never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/until-the-great-mass-of-the-people-shall-be-filled-with-the-sense-of/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/be-cunning-and-full-of-tricks-and-your-people-shall-never-be-destroyed/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [Democracy is a device that ensures the people shall be governed no better than they deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/democracy-is-a-device-that-ensures-the-people-shall-be-governed-no/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [When indeed shall we learn that we are all related one to the other, that we are all members of one body? Until the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/when-indeed-shall-we-learn-that-we-are-all-related-one-to-the-other/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) ## 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 Free quotes > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [If you love anything set it free unless it is a tiger..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshitij-roshan/if-you-love-anything-set-it-free-unless-it-is-a-tiger/) [Kshitij Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshitij-roshan/) > [I free slaves because I believe we are all created equal. I just can't think of anything that has a higher purpose than putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-williams/i-free-slaves-because-i-believe-we-are-all-created-equal-i-just-can-t/) [Virginia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-williams/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“Why is it," she asked, snuggling closer, "that I so often imagine myself running away and running free?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/why-is-it-she-asked-snuggling-closer-that-i-so-often-imagine-myself/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [My work is a love for me; I'd do it for free, but don't tell my bosses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chick-hearn/my-work-is-a-love-for-me-i-d-do-it-for-free-but-don-t-tell-my-bosses/) [Chick Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chick-hearn/) > [We want to free our citizens from the burden of excessive paper documents in every office. We want paperless transactions. We will set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/we-want-to-free-our-citizens-from-the-burden-of-excessive-paper/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“She felt wild and unruly, determined and free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/she-felt-wild-and-unruly-determined-and-free/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [Love doesnt stake claims. It is free for the giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/love-doesnt-stake-claims-it-is-free-for-the-giving/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Music is how I get free. It's a way to shut the rest of the world down and create your own world within it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-of-gab/music-is-how-i-get-free-it-s-a-way-to-shut-the-rest-of-the-world-down/) [Gift of Gab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-of-gab/) > [The dignity of man is in free choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-frisch/the-dignity-of-man-is-in-free-choice/) [Max Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-frisch/) [Browse all 6,143 Free quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our people shall be free", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-people-shall-be-free/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Free" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-people-shall-be-free/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/thomas-jefferson-43_free_our-people-shall-be-free-2358329_2358329.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/thomas-jefferson-43_free_our-people-shall-be-free-2358329_2358329.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/thomas-jefferson-43_free_our-people-shall-be-free-2358329_2358329.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our people shall be free” — 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 people shall be free", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-people-shall-be-free/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-people-shall-be-free/#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 } } ] } ```