--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When describing the University of…" description: "\"“When describing the University of Virginia: Here, We are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/thomas-jefferson-43_college_when-describing-the-university-of-virgin_1195345.jpg" --- # When describing the University of Virginia: Here, We are… ![“When describing the University of Virginia: Here, We are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/thomas-jefferson-43_college_when-describing-the-university-of-virgin_1195345.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/thomas-jefferson-43_college_when-describing-the-university-of-virgin_1195345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/thomas-jefferson-43_college_when-describing-the-university-of-virgin_1195345.jpg) > ““When describing the University of Virginia: Here, We are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.”” [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 university should pursue truth freely and tolerate no errors, allowing reason to challenge them. **In simple terms:** UVA values truth, reason, and error tolerance. Key Takeaway Encourage open inquiry and critical thinking. Themes academic freedom truth seeking reasoned debate Mood scholarly reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - curriculum design - faculty hiring - student forums - research ethics Key Concepts philosophy of education critical thinking intellectual honesty Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions balance truth‑seeking with respectful discourse? - What safeguards prevent misuse of reason? A Different Perspective Complete error tolerance is unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Persuasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persuasion/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Virginia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virginia/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [The Petition of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Chapman Johnson, Joseph C. Cabell, James Breckenridge, John Hartwell Cocke, and Robert Taylor the Rector and Visitors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-petition-of-thomas-jefferson-james-madison-chapman-johnson-joseph/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ A professorship of Theology should have no place in our institution \[the University of Virginia\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-professorship-of-theology-should-have-no-place-in-our-institution/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I propose to beg no question to shrink from no conclusion, but to follow truth wherever it may lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-george/i-propose-to-beg-no-question-to-shrink-from-no-conclusion-but-to/) [Henry George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-george/) > [I went to the University of Virginia and I came from, I grew up in suburban Philadelphia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-went-to-the-university-of-virginia-and-i-came-from-i-grew-up-in/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [It costs a hell of a lot more money to put somebody in jail than send them to the University of Virginia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/it-costs-a-hell-of-a-lot-more-money-to-put-somebody-in-jail-than-send/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I'm been very lucky to be in the situation I've been in. I grew up in Virginia Beach, went to school at the University…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/i-m-been-very-lucky-to-be-in-the-situation-i-ve-been-in-i-grew-up-in/) [Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/) > [I now teach at American University and the University of Virginia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bond/i-now-teach-at-american-university-and-the-university-of-virginia/) [Julian Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bond/) > [“This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/this-institution-will-be-based-on-the-illimitable-freedom-of-the-2/) [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/) > [This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/this-institution-will-be-based-on-the-illimitable-freedom-of-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge, never fearing to follow truth and reason to whatever results they led.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-was-bold-in-the-pursuit-of-knowledge-never-fearing-to-follow-truth-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The truth may not lead you to where you thought you were going, but it will always lead you somewhere better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-may-not-lead-you-to-where-you-thought-you-were-going-but-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Tell the truth, but lead so improbable a life that the truth will never be believed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/tell-the-truth-but-lead-so-improbable-a-life-that-the-truth-will/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [Keep one thing in view forever- the truth; and if you do this, though it may seem to lead you away from the opinion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/keep-one-thing-in-view-forever-the-truth-and-if-you-do-this-though-it/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) ## 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 College quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Children should finish school and even go to college if they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/children-should-finish-school-and-even-go-to-college-if-they-can/) [Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/) > [I was totally sober in college and really, really focused. I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/) [K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/) > [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/) [Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/doing-away-with-separate-black-colleges-meets-resistance-from-alumni/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) [Browse all 7,391 College quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When describing the University of Virginia: Here, We are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-describing-the-university-of-virginia-here-we-are-not-afraid-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "College" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-describing-the-university-of-virginia-here-we-are-not-afraid-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/thomas-jefferson-43_college_when-describing-the-university-of-virgin_1195345.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/thomas-jefferson-43_college_when-describing-the-university-of-virgin_1195345.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/thomas-jefferson-43_college_when-describing-the-university-of-virgin_1195345.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When describing the University of Virginia: Here, We are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead…” — 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": "“When describing the University of Virginia:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-describing-the-university-of-virginia-here-we-are-not-afraid-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-describing-the-university-of-virginia-here-we-are-not-afraid-to/#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 } } ] } ```