--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Though [the people] may acquiesce, they…" description: "\"Though [the people] may acquiesce, they cannot approve what they do not understand.\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/thomas-jefferson-43_may_though-the-people-may-acquiesce-they-can_1837065.jpg" --- # Though \[the people\] may acquiesce, they cannot approve… ![“Though [the people] may acquiesce, they cannot approve what they do not understand.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/thomas-jefferson-43_may_though-the-people-may-acquiesce-they-can_1837065.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/thomas-jefferson-43_may_though-the-people-may-acquiesce-they-can_1837065.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/thomas-jefferson-43_may_though-the-people-may-acquiesce-they-can_1837065.jpg) > “Though \[the people\] may acquiesce, they cannot approve what they do not understand.” [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. People may accept policies without understanding, leading to blind approval. **In simple terms:** Blind approval without understanding. Key Takeaway Seek informed consent. Themes politics knowledge consent Mood concerned thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - voting - public policy debates - community meetings Key Concepts democracy civic engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can we improve public understanding? - What role does education play? A Different Perspective Understanding may be limited by complexity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquiesce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquiesce-3165/) [Acquiesce Approve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquiesce-approve-2320375/) [Approve Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approve-understand-2320374/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Acquiesce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-acquiesce-2320373/) [Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand/) ## Related quotes > [“Simply to acquiesce in skepticism can never suffice to overcome the restlessness of reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/simply-to-acquiesce-in-skepticism-can-never-suffice-to-overcome-the/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Young parents in America are holy and not to be messed with. If they say something is correct, we all acquiesce. And is there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/young-parents-in-america-are-holy-and-not-to-be-messed-with-if-they/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [For one cannot change, that is to say become another person, while continuing to acquiesce to the feelings of the person one no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/for-one-cannot-change-that-is-to-say-become-another-person-while/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Acceptance does not mean that you placidly acquiesce to the myriad injustices that are all around you. In fact, that you are incensed about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/acceptance-does-not-mean-that-you-placidly-acquiesce-to-the-myriad/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [There came a time when these two incompatible notions of who I was, well, something had to give. Either that 'something' is where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-parker/there-came-a-time-when-these-two-incompatible-notions-of-who-i-was/) [Sean Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-parker/) > [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/) > [For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/for-here-we-are-not-afraid-to-follow-truth-wherever-it-may-lead/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/laws-that-forbid-the-carrying-of-arms-disarm-only-those-who-are/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains rather than do an immoral act. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/give-up-money-give-up-fame-give-up-science-give-the-earth-itself-and/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Listening doesn't mean trying to understand. Anything, however trifling, may be of use one day. What matters is to know something that others don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/listening-doesn-t-mean-trying-to-understand-anything-however-trifling/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Let us understand what our own selfish genes are up to because we may then at least have the chance to upset their designs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/let-us-understand-what-our-own-selfish-genes-are-up-to-because-we-may/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [“If people fully understand you, they will think of you as a normal, if they half understand you, will think of you as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/if-people-fully-understand-you-they-will-think-of-you-as-a-normal-if/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) ## 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 Acquiesce quotes > [There came a time when these two incompatible notions of who I was, well, something had to give. Either that 'something' is where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-parker/there-came-a-time-when-these-two-incompatible-notions-of-who-i-was/) [Sean Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-parker/) > [Acceptance does not mean that you placidly acquiesce to the myriad injustices that are all around you. In fact, that you are incensed about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/acceptance-does-not-mean-that-you-placidly-acquiesce-to-the-myriad/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [For one cannot change, that is to say become another person, while continuing to acquiesce to the feelings of the person one no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/for-one-cannot-change-that-is-to-say-become-another-person-while/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Young parents in America are holy and not to be messed with. If they say something is correct, we all acquiesce. And is there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/young-parents-in-america-are-holy-and-not-to-be-messed-with-if-they/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [“Simply to acquiesce in skepticism can never suffice to overcome the restlessness of reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/simply-to-acquiesce-in-skepticism-can-never-suffice-to-overcome-the/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) [Browse all 6 Acquiesce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquiesce-3165/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Though [the people] may acquiesce, they cannot approve what they do not understand.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-the-people-may-acquiesce-they-cannot-approve-what-they-do-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acquiesce" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-the-people-may-acquiesce-they-cannot-approve-what-they-do-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/thomas-jefferson-43_may_though-the-people-may-acquiesce-they-can_1837065.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/thomas-jefferson-43_may_though-the-people-may-acquiesce-they-can_1837065.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/thomas-jefferson-43_may_though-the-people-may-acquiesce-they-can_1837065.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Though [the people] may acquiesce, they cannot approve what they do not understand.” — 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": "Though [the people] may acquiesce, they...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-the-people-may-acquiesce-they-cannot-approve-what-they-do-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-the-people-may-acquiesce-they-cannot-approve-what-they-do-not/#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 } } ] } ```