--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What has been the effect of religious…" description: "\"What has been the effect of religious coercion? To make half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites.\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/thomas-jefferson-43_religion_what-has-been-the-effect-of-religious-co_1737685.jpg" --- # What has been the effect of religious coercion? To make… ![“What has been the effect of religious coercion? To make half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/thomas-jefferson-43_religion_what-has-been-the-effect-of-religious-co_1737685.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/thomas-jefferson-43_religion_what-has-been-the-effect-of-religious-co_1737685.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/thomas-jefferson-43_religion_what-has-been-the-effect-of-religious-co_1737685.jpg) > “What has been the effect of religious coercion? To make half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites.” [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. Religious coercion creates division, producing both gullible followers and hypocritical elites. **In simple terms:** Coercion breeds fools and hypocrites. Key Takeaway Promote religious freedom. Themes politics religion ethics Mood critical concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy reform - education - public discourse - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts Freedom of conscience social division Questions to Reflect On - How does coercion affect society? - What alternatives protect belief? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched power structures is difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coercion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coercion/) [Hypocrites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypocrites/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [ What has been the effect of \[religious\] coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-has-been-the-effect-of-religious-coercion-to-make-one-half-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is not one redeeming feature in our superstition of Christianity. It has made one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-not-one-redeeming-feature-in-our-superstition-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Every human being shall see in each and all of his fellow-men a hidden divinity... that every human being is made in the likeness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-steiner/every-human-being-shall-see-in-each-and-all-of-his-fellow-men-a/) [Rudolf Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-steiner/) > [Two hundred years ago the forces of freedom challenged this idea. The children of the new enlightenment rose up to defy the tyranny of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-wine/two-hundred-years-ago-the-forces-of-freedom-challenged-this-idea-the/) [Sherwin Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-wine/) > [ What has been the effect of coericion \[sic\]? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-has-been-the-effect-of-coericion-sic-to-make-one-half-the-world/) [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/) > [Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burned, tortured, fined, and imprisoned, yet we have not advanced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/millions-of-innocent-men-women-and-children-since-the-introduction-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Heaven is not to be looked upon only as the reward, but the natural effect, of a religious life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/heaven-is-not-to-be-looked-upon-only-as-the-reward-but-the-natural/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [I'm not even an atheist so much as I am an antitheist; I not only maintain that all religions are versions of the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-m-not-even-an-atheist-so-much-as-i-am-an-antitheist-i-not-only/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I am not even an atheist so much as I am an antitheist; I not only maintain that all religions are versions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-am-not-even-an-atheist-so-much-as-i-am-an-antitheist-i-not-only/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [The most curious social convention of the great age in which we live is the one to the effect that religious opinions should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-most-curious-social-convention-of-the-great-age-in-which-we-live-2/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [The most curious social convention of the great age in which we live is the one to the effect that religious opinions should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-curious-social-convention-of-the-great-age-in-which-we-live/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/where-the-preamble-declares-that-coercion-is-a-departure-from-the/) [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/) > [What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-has-been-the-effect-of-coercion-to-make-one-half-the-world-fools/) [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 Coercion quotes > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [Coercion is the basis of every law in the universe,--human or divine. A law is not law without coercion behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/coercion-is-the-basis-of-every-law-in-the-universe-human-or-divine-a/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [“Love is not coercion, and the state is only an agent of coercion. It has no other function and can work no other way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mcdurmon/love-is-not-coercion-and-the-state-is-only-an-agent-of-coercion-it/) Joel McDurmon > [“Therapy requires a collaborative working relationship in which both partners act on the basis of their implicit confidence in the value and efficacy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-lewis-herman/therapy-requires-a-collaborative-working-relationship-in-which-both/) [Judith Lewis Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-lewis-herman/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [There’s one thing that’s been 'learned' maybe from Tunisia and Egypt that I think is a mistake. And that is that the existing ruler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-sharp/there-s-one-thing-that-s-been-learned-maybe-from-tunisia-and-egypt/) [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) > [Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central direction, it reduces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/economic-freedom-is-an-essential-requisite-for-political-freedom-by/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [“Men are moral beings in their untrammelled nature. If constraint and coercion can once be removed they will be happy and if they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-unsworth/men-are-moral-beings-in-their-untrammelled-nature-if-constraint-and/) [Barry Unsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-unsworth/) > [“If you require force to promote your ideal, there is something wrong with your ideal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jsb-morse/if-you-require-force-to-promote-your-ideal-there-is-something-wrong/) JSB Morse > [The idea of painless, nonthreatening coercion is an illusion. Fear is the inseparable companion of coercion, and its inescapable consequence. If you think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-holt/the-idea-of-painless-nonthreatening-coercion-is-an-illusion-fear-is/) [John Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-holt/) > [To say that we mutually agree to coercion is not to say that we are required to enjoy it, or even to pretend we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/to-say-that-we-mutually-agree-to-coercion-is-not-to-say-that-we-are/) [Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/) > [“There are always a dozen reasons for doing nothing," Ann liked to say--it was a favourite apologia, indeed, for many of her misdemeanours. "There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/there-are-always-a-dozen-reasons-for-doing-nothing-ann-liked-to-say/) [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [The state is the only institution entitled to apply coercion and compulsion and to inflict harm upon individuals. This tremendous power cannot be abandoned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-state-is-the-only-institution-entitled-to-apply-coercion-and/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [So what is government?... Very simply, it is an agency of coercion. Of course, there are other agencies of coercion - such as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/so-what-is-government-very-simply-it-is-an-agency-of-coercion-of/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [“Coercing attitude drains your strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/coercing-attitude-drains-your-strength/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) [Browse all 310 Coercion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coercion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What has been the effect of religious coercion? To make half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-has-been-the-effect-of-religious-coercion-to-make-half-the-world/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Coercion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-has-been-the-effect-of-religious-coercion-to-make-half-the-world/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/thomas-jefferson-43_religion_what-has-been-the-effect-of-religious-co_1737685.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/thomas-jefferson-43_religion_what-has-been-the-effect-of-religious-co_1737685.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/thomas-jefferson-43_religion_what-has-been-the-effect-of-religious-co_1737685.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What has been the effect of religious coercion? To make half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites.” — 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": "What has been the effect of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-has-been-the-effect-of-religious-coercion-to-make-half-the-world/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-has-been-the-effect-of-religious-coercion-to-make-half-the-world/#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 } } ] } ```