Saturday, May 26, 2007

Qoutations from Thomas Jeffersion

Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing, than he who believes what is wrong.
considering three different explanations for why sea shells would be found at higher elevations than one should reasonably expect an ocean to have existed, in Notes on the State of Virginia

All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate which would be oppression.
First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1801

Error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.
First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1801

If M de Becourt's book be false in its facts, disprove them; if false in its reasoning, refute it. But, for God's sake, let us freely hear both sides, if we choose.
letter to N G Dufief, Philadelphia bookseller, 1814, after being prosecuted for selling de Becourt's book, Sur la Création du Monde, un Systême d'Organisation Primitive, which Jefferson himself had purchased (see Positive Atheism's Historical section)

It is error alone that needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.
Notes on Virginia

Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must approve the homage of reason rather than of blind-folded fear. Do not be frightened from this inquiry by any fear of its consequences.
to Peter Carr, 10 Aug. 1787. (original capitalization of the word god is retained per original)

No comments: