--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We took the liberty to make some…" description: "\"“We took the liberty to make some enquiries concerning the ground of their pretensions to make war upon nations who had done them no injury, and observ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/thomas-jefferson-43_freedom_we-took-the-liberty-to-make-some-enquiri_1367898.jpg" --- # We took the liberty to make some enquiries concerning the… ![“We took the liberty to make some enquiries concerning the ground of their pretensions to make war upon nations who had done them no injury, and observed that we considered all mankind as our friends who had done us no wrong, nor had given us any provocation. The Ambassador [of Tripoli] answered us…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/thomas-jefferson-43_freedom_we-took-the-liberty-to-make-some-enquiri_1367898.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/thomas-jefferson-43_freedom_we-took-the-liberty-to-make-some-enquiri_1367898.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/thomas-jefferson-43_freedom_we-took-the-liberty-to-make-some-enquiri_1367898.jpg) > ““We took the liberty to make some enquiries concerning the ground of their pretensions to make war upon nations who had done them no injury, and observed that we considered all mankind as our friends who had done us no wrong, nor had given us any provocation. The Ambassador \[of Tripoli\] answered us that it was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every Musselman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise. { Letter from the commissioners, John Adams & Thomas Jefferson, to John Jay , 28 March 1786 }”” [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 letter critiques the Tripoli ambassador’s justification for war, exposing how religious doctrine was used to legitimize aggression. **In simple terms:** Tripoli used religious law to justify war and slavery. Key Takeaway Question the use of religion to justify violence. Themes history religion war colonialism ethics Mood critical historical Type political ethical When to use this quote - diplomatic negotiations - policy making - human rights advocacy - educational curricula Key Concepts justification of war religious extremism colonial attitudes Questions to Reflect On - How do modern states use ideology to justify conflict? - What lessons can be drawn for contemporary foreign policy? A Different Perspective Religious justifications can be manipulated for political ends. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambassador Tripoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambassador-tripoli-4702898/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [John Adam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-adam/) [John adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-adams/) [John Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-jay-228929/) [Koran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/koran/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Mohammed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mohammed/) [Muslim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muslim/) [Paradise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradise/) [Quran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quran/) [Religious-violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-violence/) [The-prophet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-prophet-188233/) [Took Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-liberty-4083121/) [Tripoli Answered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tripoli-answered-4702897/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Your Majesty, I took the liberty because I was so desirous of visiting alone with you for a few minutes before the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-annenberg/your-majesty-i-took-the-liberty-because-i-was-so-desirous-of-visiting/) [Walter Annenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-annenberg/) > [“I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of taking away your freedoms. –Uncle Sam ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-hope-you-don-t-mind-but-i-took-the-liberty-of-taking-away-your/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“When love beckons to you, follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him,Though the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/when-love-beckons-to-you-follow-him-though-his-ways-are-hard-and-6/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“The six stories of dirt and mile of distance between us and the Citizens of Iris is far from insurmountable, but we will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-six-stories-of-dirt-and-mile-of-distance-between-us-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/how-dreadful-are-the-curses-which-mohammedanism-lays-on-its-votaries-2/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“When we see religion split into so many thousand of sects, and I may say Christianity itself divided into its thousands also, who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-we-see-religion-split-into-so-many-thousand-of-sects-and-i-may/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Difference of opinion is advantageous in religion. The several sects perform the office of a Censor morum over each other. Is uniformity attainable? Millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/difference-of-opinion-is-advantageous-in-religion-the-several-sects-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“I write nothing for publication, and last of all things should it be on the subject of religion. On the dogmas of religion as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-write-nothing-for-publication-and-last-of-all-things-should-it-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“No imputation on his purpose but cleared away like the cloud from a breath on spotless steel, leaving the metal bright as before. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-cyrus-augustus-bartol/no-imputation-on-his-purpose-but-cleared-away-like-the-cloud-from-a/) [C.A. (Cyrus Augustus) Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-cyrus-augustus-bartol/) > [“Dear Editor: Rousseau thought that democracy was a good idea, but unworkable. Plato recommended an intellectual aristocracy, with ‘philosopher kings’ using psychological manipulation to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-editor-rousseau-thought-that-democracy-was-a-good-idea-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“John Jay og Beatty dukket fram fra en treklynge, de leide hestene i tøylene mens de langsomt spaserte ut i sollyset, tydeligvis fortapt for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-mckinley/john-jay-og-beatty-dukket-fram-fra-en-treklynge-de-leide-hestene-i-t/) [Tamara McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-mckinley/) > [“In 1973 Flora Schreiber wrote SYBIL, a case history of a person with DID. After Schreiber’s death in 1988 there have been several unsuccessful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-suraci/in-1973-flora-schreiber-wrote-sybil-a-case-history-of-a-person-with/) [Patrick Suraci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-suraci/) > [“John Jay put it as bluntly as possible: “Those who own the country ought to govern it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/john-jay-put-it-as-bluntly-as-possible-those-who-own-the-country/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the spotless ermine of the judicial robe fell on John Jay, it touched nothing less spotless than itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/when-the-spotless-ermine-of-the-judicial-robe-fell-on-john-jay-it/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [“When a person irrationally and quite pathologically sticks to the creeds of his scriptures too much, it can turn even a great human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/when-a-person-irrationally-and-quite-pathologically-sticks-to-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) ## 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. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We took the liberty to make some enquiries concerning the ground of their pretensions to make war upon nations who had done them no injury, and observed that we considered all mankind as our friends who had done us no wrong, nor had given us any provocation. The Ambassador [of Tripoli] answered us that it was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every Musselman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise. { Letter from the commissioners, John Adams & Thomas Jefferson, to John Jay , 28 March 1786 }”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-took-the-liberty-to-make-some-enquiries-concerning-the-ground-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Freedom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-took-the-liberty-to-make-some-enquiries-concerning-the-ground-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/thomas-jefferson-43_freedom_we-took-the-liberty-to-make-some-enquiri_1367898.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/thomas-jefferson-43_freedom_we-took-the-liberty-to-make-some-enquiri_1367898.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/thomas-jefferson-43_freedom_we-took-the-liberty-to-make-some-enquiri_1367898.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We took the liberty to make some enquiries concerning the ground of their pretensions to make war upon…” — 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": "“We took the liberty to make...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-took-the-liberty-to-make-some-enquiries-concerning-the-ground-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-took-the-liberty-to-make-some-enquiries-concerning-the-ground-of/#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 } } ] } ```