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Thomas Jefferson Quotes about Ignorance

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If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed.

If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed.

Thomas Jefferson
Ignorance, Responsibility, Ifs

Bigotry is the disease of ignorance, of morbid minds; enthusiasm of the free and buoyant. Education and free discussion are the antidotes of both.

Thomas Jefferson
Education, Ignorance, Racism
Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.53, Cambridge University Press

The tax which will be paid for the purpose of education is not more than the thousandth part of what will be paid to kings, priests and nobles who will rise up among us if we leave the people in ignorance

Thomas Jefferson
Kings, Ignorance, School
Thomas Jefferson (1900). “The Life and Writings of ...”

Ignorance of the law is no excuse in any country. If it were, the laws would lose their effect, because it can always be pretended.

Thomas Jefferson
Country, Ignorance, Law
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs, correspondence and private papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. by T.J. Randolph”

To constrain the brute force of the people, the European governments deem it necessary to keep them down by hard labor, poverty and ignorance, and to take from them, as from bees, so much of their earnings, as that unremitting labor shall be necessary to obtain a sufficient surplus to sustain a scanty and miserable life.

Thomas Jefferson
Ignorance, Government, People
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies: From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson”, p.369

Religious leaders will always avail themselves of public ignorance for their own purpose.

Thomas Jefferson
Religious, Atheist, Ignorance

preach, my dear Sir, a crusade against ignorance; establish & improve the law for educating the common people.

Thomas Jefferson
Wisdom, Educational, Ignorance
Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1859). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence”, p.8

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.

Thomas Jefferson
Religious, Believe, Ignorance
Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.193, Cambridge University Press

Ignorance and bigotry, like other insanities, are incapable of self-government.

Thomas Jefferson
Ignorance, Government, Self
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies from the papers of T. Jefferson”

No nation is permitted to live in ignorance with impunity

Thomas Jefferson
Ignorance, Nigeria Independence, Impunity
Thomas Jefferson (2004). “Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness”, p.114, Modern Library

Bigotry is the disease of ignorance.

Thomas Jefferson
Ignorance, Disease, Bigotry
Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby, Terence Ball (1999). “Jefferson: Political Writings”, p.53, Cambridge University Press

We discover in the gospels a groundwork of vulgar ignorance, of things impossible, of superstition, fanaticism and fabrication .

Thomas Jefferson
Religious, Father, Ignorance

I am sorry they began their deliberations by so abominable a precedent as that of tying up the tongues of their members. Nothing can justify this example but the innocence of their intentions and ignorance of the value of public discussions. I have no doubt that all their other measures will be good and wise. It is really an assembly of demigods.

Thomas Jefferson
Wise, Sorry, Ignorance
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs, 2: Correspondence and Private Papers”, p.228

If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?

Thomas Jefferson
Truth, Freedom, Ignorance

May [our Declaration of Independence] be to the world, what I believe it will be (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all), the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government... All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man.

Thomas Jefferson
Believe, Eye, Ignorance
Thomas Jefferson (1943). “Thomas Jefferson: selections from his writings edited, with an introduction”

Our [Virginia's] act for freedom of religion is extremely applauded. The Ambassadors and ministers of the several nations of Europe resident at this court have asked me copies of it to send to their sovereigns, and it is inserted at full length in several books now in the press; among others, in the new Encyclopédie. I think it will produce considerable good even in those countries where ignorance, superstition, poverty and oppression of body and mind in every form, are so firmly settled on the mass of the people, that their redemption from them can never be hoped.

Thomas Jefferson
Country, Book, Ignorance
Thomas Jefferson (1830). “Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, from the Papers of Thomas Jefferson”, p.44

Old heads as well as young may sometimes be charged with ignorance and presumption. The natural course of the human mind is certainly from credulity to skepticism.

Thomas Jefferson
Ignorance, Mind, May
Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies: From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson”, p.94

Ignorance is a poor tool in a battle of wits.

Thomas Jefferson
Ignorance, Battle, Tools

Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him (i.e. Jesus) by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of the most lovely benevolence; and others again of so much ignorance, so much absurdity, so much untruth, charlatanism, and imposture, as to pronounce it impossible that such contradictions should have proceeded from the same being.

Thomas Jefferson
Religious, Jesus, Ignorance

Even in Europe a change has sensibly taken place in the mind of man. Science has liberated the ideas of those who read and reflect, and the American example has kindled feelings of right in the people. An insurrection has consequently begun of science talents and courage against rank and birth, which have fallen into contempt. It has failed in its first effort, because the mobs of the cities, the instrument used for its accomplishment, debased by ignorance, poverty and vice, could not be restrained to rational action. But the world will soon recover from the panic of this first catastrophe.

Thomas Jefferson
Change, Taken, Ignorance
Thomas Jefferson (1977). “The Portable Thomas Jefferson”, p.426, Penguin

A cold-blooded, calculation, unprincipled, usurper, without a virtue, no statesman, knowing nothing of commerce, political economy, or civil government, and supplying ignorance by bold presumption.

Thomas Jefferson
Ignorance, Knowing Nothing, Government
Thomas Jefferson, Henry Augustine Washington (1859). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence”, p.352

Both of our political parties, at least the honest portion of them, agree conscientiously in the same object: the public good; but they differ essentially in what they deem the means of promoting that good. One side believes it best done by one composition of the governing powers, the other by a different one. One fears most the ignorance of the people; the other the selfishness of rulers independent of them. Which is right, time and experience will prove.

Thomas Jefferson
Party, Believe, Ignorance
B. L. Rayner, Thomas Jefferson (1834). “Life of Thomas Jefferson: with selections from the most valuable portions of his voluminious and unrivalled private correspondence : with portrait”, p.386

We are destined to be a barrier against the return of ignorance and barbarism. Old Europe will have to lean on our shoulders, and to hobble along by our side, under the monkish trammels of priests and kings, as she can. What a colossus shall we be when the southern continent comes up to our mark! What a stand will it seem as a ralliance for the reason and freedom of the globe!

Thomas Jefferson
Kings, Ignorance, Europe
Thomas Jefferson, J. Jefferson Looney (2014). “The Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series, Volume 10: 1 May 1816 to 18 January 1817”, p.285, Princeton University Press