Quote

Compulsion in religion is distinguished peculiarly from compulsion in every other thing. ...I cannot be saved by a worship I disbelieve and abhor.

Thomas Jefferson

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Thomas Jefferson
Age: 83 †
Born: 1743
Born: April 2
Died: 1826
Died: July 4
3Rd U.S. President
Archaeologist
Architect
Cryptographer
Diplomat
Farmer
Inventor
Jurist
Lawyer
Philosopher
Politician
Slaveholder
President Jefferson
T. Jefferson
Worship
Religion
Cannot
Disbelieve
Thing
Peculiarly
Every
Abhor
Compulsion
Distinguished
Saved

More quotes by Thomas Jefferson

Image
I never saw an instance of one or two disputants convincing the other by argument.
Thomas Jefferson
Image
The excellence of every government is its adaptation to the state of those to be governed by it.
Thomas Jefferson
Image
Principle will, in... most... cases open the way for us to correct conclusion.
Thomas Jefferson
Image
At the time we were funding our national debt, we heard much about a public debt being a public blessing that the stock representing it was a creation of active capital for the aliment of commerce, manufactures and agriculture. This paradox was well adapted to the minds of believers in dreams.
Thomas Jefferson
Image
[We should be] determined... to sever ourselves from the union we so much value rather than give up the rights of self-government... in which alone we see liberty, safety and happiness.
Thomas Jefferson
Image
In the middle ages of Christianity opposition to the State opinions was hushed. The consequence was, Christianity became loaded with all the Romish follies. Nothing but free argument, raillery & even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.
Thomas Jefferson
Image
The moral sense, or conscience, is as much part of a man as his leg or arm. It is given to all in a stronger or weaker degree.. It may be strengthened by exercise.
Thomas Jefferson
Image
Drawing ... is an innocent & engaging amusement, often useful, and a qualification not to be neglected in one who is to become a mother & an instructor.
Thomas Jefferson
Image
Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise, in a body to which the people send one hundred and fifty lawyers, whose trade it is to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour?
Thomas Jefferson
Image
The best defense of democracy is an informed electorate.
Thomas Jefferson
Image
It is in our lives and not our words that our religion must be read.
Thomas Jefferson
Image
The Christian religion is the best religion that has ever been given to man
Thomas Jefferson
Image
If a sect arises whose tenets would subvert morals, good sense has fair play and reasons and laughs it out of doors without suffering the State to be troubled with it.
Thomas Jefferson
Image
If I had to choose between government without newspapers, and newspapers without government, I wouldn't hesitate to choose the latter
Thomas Jefferson
Image
There is no King, who, with sufficient force, is not always ready to make himself absolute.
Thomas Jefferson
Image
Travelling. ... when men of sober age travel, they gather knowlege which they may apply usefully for their country
Thomas Jefferson
Image
My religious reading has long been confined to the moral branch of religion, which is the same in all religions while in that branch which consists of dogmas, all differ[.
Thomas Jefferson
Image
If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?
Thomas Jefferson
Image
[I]n Great-Britain it is said that their constitution relies on the house of commons for honesty, and the lords for wisdom whichwould be a rational reliance if honesty were to be bought with money, and if wisdom were hereditary.
Thomas Jefferson
Image
An acre of the best ground for hemp, is to be selected and sewn in hemp and be kept for a permanent hemp patch.
Thomas Jefferson