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Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error.

Thomas Jefferson

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Thomas Jefferson
Age: 83 †
Born: 1743
Born: April 2
Died: 1826
Died: July 4
3Rd U.S. President
Archaeologist
Architect
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Diplomat
Farmer
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President Jefferson
T. Jefferson
Irreversible
Humanist
Inquiry
Error
Agents
Errors
Free
Effectual
Reason
Enquiry

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An industrious farmer occupies a more dignified place in the scale of beings...than a lazy lounger...too proud to work, and drawing out a miserable existence by eating on that surplus of other men's labor.
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One imputation in particular has been repeated till it seems as if some at least believed it: that I am an enemy to commerce. They admit me a friend of agriculture, and suppose me an enemy to the only means of disposing of its produce.
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All... natural rights may be abridged or modified in [their] exercise by law.
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We are here lounging our time away, doing nothing, and having nothing to do. It gives me great regret to be passing my time so uselessly when it could have been so importantly employed at home.
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The genius of architecture seems to have shed its maledictions over this land.
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I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.
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Those who wish to be ignorant and free, believe in something that never was and never shall be.
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The clergy believe that any power confided in me will be exerted in opposition to their schemes, and they believe rightly.
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In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty.
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Bind them down by the chains of the Constitution where they can do no mischief.
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[T]he people seem to have deposited the monarchical and taken up the republican government with as much ease as would have attended their throwing off an old and putting on a new suit of clothes.
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The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
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I am not myself apt to be alarmed at innovations recommended by reason. That dread belongs to those whose interests or prejudices shrink from the advance of truth and science.
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The objects of this primary education . . . would be . . . to form the statesmen, legislators and judges, on whom public prosperity and individual happiness are so much to depend.
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If we did a good act merely from love of God and a belief that it is pleasing to Him, whence arises the morality of the Atheist? ...Their virtue, then, must have had some other foundation than the love of God.
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Excessive taxation . . . will carry reason & reflection to every man's door, and particularly in the hour of election.
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The interests of a nation, when well understood, will be found to coincide with their moral duties.
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The first object of human association [is] the full improvement of their condition.
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We confide in our strength, without boasting of it, we respect that of others, without fearing it.
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Love your neighbor as yourself and your country more than yourself.
Thomas Jefferson