--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The information of the people at large…" description: "\"The information of the people at large can alone make them the safe as they are the sole depositary of our political and religious freedom.\" — Thomas J..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef9/thomas-jefferson-43_freedom_the-information-of-the-people-at-large-c_113599.jpg" --- # The information of the people at large can alone make them… ![“The information of the people at large can alone make them the safe as they are the sole depositary of our political and religious freedom.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef9/thomas-jefferson-43_freedom_the-information-of-the-people-at-large-c_113599.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef9/thomas-jefferson-43_freedom_the-information-of-the-people-at-large-c_113599.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef9/thomas-jefferson-43_freedom_the-information-of-the-people-at-large-c_113599.jpg) > “The information of the people at large can alone make them the safe as they are the sole depositary of our political and religious 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. The collective knowledge and participation of the populace safeguard political and religious liberty, as citizens are the ultimate custodians of those freedoms. **In simple terms:** People's shared insight protects freedom. Key Takeaway Freedom depends on an informed, engaged citizenry. Themes civic responsibility political theory freedom public knowledge Mood inspirational cautious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - voting in elections - community town‑hall meetings - grassroots activism Key Concepts social contract collective agency Practical Applications - civic education programs - public forums for dialogue Questions to Reflect On - How can societies ensure citizens stay well‑informed? - What mechanisms protect freedom when public engagement wanes? A Different Perspective If the public is misinformed or apathetic, the safeguard can fail, leading to erosion of freedoms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-freedom/) ## Related quotes > [ The law for religious freedom... \[has\]put down the aristocracy of the clergy and restored to the citizen the freedom of the mind. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-law-for-religious-freedom-has-put-down-the-aristocracy-of-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [We have solved, by fair experiment, the great and interesting question whether freedom of religion is compatible with order in government and obedience to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-have-solved-by-fair-experiment-the-great-and-interesting-question/) [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/) > [Are we to have a censor whose imprimatur shall say what books may be sold, and what we may buy? And who is thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/are-we-to-have-a-censor-whose-imprimatur-shall-say-what-books-may-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [We have no right to prejudice another in his civil enjoyments because he is of another church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-have-no-right-to-prejudice-another-in-his-civil-enjoyments-because/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Here was buried Thomas Jefferson Author of the Declaration of American Independence Of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom & Father of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/here-was-buried-thomas-jefferson-author-of-the-declaration-of-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Erecting the 'wall of separation between church and state'... is absolutely essential in a free society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/erecting-the-wall-of-separation-between-church-and-state-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ The advocate of religious freedom is to expect neither peace nor forgiveness from \[the clergy\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-advocate-of-religious-freedom-is-to-expect-neither-peace-nor/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In our early struggles for liberty, religious freedom could not fail to become a primary object.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/in-our-early-struggles-for-liberty-religious-freedom-could-not-fail/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-does-me-no-injury-for-my-neighbour-to-say-there-are-20-gods-or-no/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In reviewing the history of the times through which we have passed, no portion of it gives greater satisfaction or reflection, than that which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/in-reviewing-the-history-of-the-times-through-which-we-have-passed-no/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors? Fallible men; men governed by bad passions, by private as well as public reasons.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/subject-opinion-to-coercion-whom-will-you-make-your-inquisitors/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and Father of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/here-was-buried-thomas-jefferson-author-of-the-declaration-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-day-will-come-when-the-mystical-generation-of-jesus-by-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Among the most inestimable of our blessings is that ... of liberty to worship our Creator in the way we think most agreeable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/among-the-most-inestimable-of-our-blessings-is-that-of-liberty-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## 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 Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [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/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. 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