--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The firmness with which the (American)…" description: "\"The firmness with which the (American) people have withstood the... abuses of the press, the discernment they have manifested between truth and falseho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/thomas-jefferson-43_abuse_the-firmness-with-which-the-american-peo_1811883.jpg" --- # The firmness with which the (American) people have… ![“The firmness with which the (American) people have withstood the... abuses of the press, the discernment they have manifested between truth and falsehood, show that they may safely be trusted to hear everything true and false and to form a correct judgment between them.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/thomas-jefferson-43_abuse_the-firmness-with-which-the-american-peo_1811883.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/thomas-jefferson-43_abuse_the-firmness-with-which-the-american-peo_1811883.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/thomas-jefferson-43_abuse_the-firmness-with-which-the-american-peo_1811883.jpg) > “The firmness with which the (American) people have withstood the... abuses of the press, the discernment they have manifested between truth and falsehood, show that they may safely be trusted to hear everything true and false and to form a correct judgment between them.” [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. The public can distinguish truth from falsehood when they critically evaluate information, allowing them to make sound judgments. **In simple terms:** People can tell truth from lies if they think critically. Key Takeaway Encourage critical thinking in media consumption. Themes critical thinking media literacy judgment trust truth Mood thoughtful analytical cautious Type advice philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - news consumption - political debate - education curricula - social media use Key Concepts cognitive bias information evaluation public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify the credibility of a source? - What habits improve your ability to judge information? A Different Perspective Overconfidence in personal discernment can lead to echo chambers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Discernment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discernment/) [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [True and false](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-and-false/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth and falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-and-falsehood/) ## Related quotes > [True and False are attributes of speech, not of things. And where speech is not, there is neither Truth nor Falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/true-and-false-are-attributes-of-speech-not-of-things-and-where/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [“deepest moment. Your recent services to one of the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may safely be trusted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/deepest-moment-your-recent-services-to-one-of-the-royal-houses-of/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [No human being, man, woman, or child, may safely be entrusted to the power of another; for no human being may safely be trusted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-la-follette/no-human-being-man-woman-or-child-may-safely-be-entrusted-to-the/) [Suzanne La Follette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-la-follette/) > [It is so difficult to draw a clear line of separation between the abuse and the wholesome use of the press, that as yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-so-difficult-to-draw-a-clear-line-of-separation-between-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [This (functional - E.W.) language controls by reducing the linguistic forms and symbols of reflection, abstraction, development, contradiction; by substituting images for concepts. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/this-functional-e-w-language-controls-by-reducing-the-linguistic/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) > [Philosophers talk about truth and falsehood. People in life talk about payoff, exposure, and consequences (risks and rewards), hence fragility and antifragility. And sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/philosophers-talk-about-truth-and-falsehood-people-in-life-talk-about/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [The ultimate truth is penultimately a falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-ultimate-truth-is-penultimately-a-falsehood/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [Belief is with them mechanical, voluntary: they believe what they are paid for - they swear to that which turns to account. Do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/belief-is-with-them-mechanical-voluntary-they-believe-what-they-are/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [the senses alone are not implicitly to be depended on. We must correct their evidence by reason, and by considerations, derived from the nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-senses-alone-are-not-implicitly-to-be-depended-on-we-must-correct/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Though truth and falsehood be Near twins, yet truth a little elder is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/though-truth-and-falsehood-be-near-twins-yet-truth-a-little-elder-is/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [. . . is to attempt seeing Truth without knowing Falsehood. It is the attempt to see the Light without knowing Darkness. It cannot be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/is-to-attempt-seeing-truth-without-knowing-falsehood-it-is-the/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Reason, in a strict sense, as meaning the judgment of truth and falsehood, can never, of itself, be any motive to the will, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/reason-in-a-strict-sense-as-meaning-the-judgment-of-truth-and/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [For politicians truth and falsehood are unimportant. So I never could become a politician - not even a church politician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-niemoller/for-politicians-truth-and-falsehood-are-unimportant-so-i-never-could/) [Martin Niemoller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-niemoller/) > [Truth and falsehood are opposed; but truth is the norm not of truth only but of falsehood also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/truth-and-falsehood-are-opposed-but-truth-is-the-norm-not-of-truth/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [There is truth and falsehood in a comma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/there-is-truth-and-falsehood-in-a-comma/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## 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 Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The firmness with which the (American) people have withstood the... abuses of the press, the discernment they have manifested between truth and falsehood, show that they may safely be trusted to hear everything true and false and to form a correct judgment between them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-firmness-with-which-the-american-people-have-withstood-the-abuses/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abuse" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-firmness-with-which-the-american-people-have-withstood-the-abuses/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/thomas-jefferson-43_abuse_the-firmness-with-which-the-american-peo_1811883.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/thomas-jefferson-43_abuse_the-firmness-with-which-the-american-peo_1811883.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/thomas-jefferson-43_abuse_the-firmness-with-which-the-american-peo_1811883.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The firmness with which the (American) people have withstood the... abuses of the press, the discernment…” — 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": "The firmness with which the (American)...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-firmness-with-which-the-american-people-have-withstood-the-abuses/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-firmness-with-which-the-american-people-have-withstood-the-abuses/#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 } } ] } ```