I, place economy among the first & most important republican virtues, & public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared
Thomas JeffersonRead
The firmness with which the (American) people have withstood the... abuses of the press, the discernment they have manifested between truth and falsehood, show that they may safely be trusted to hear everything true and false and to form a correct judgment between them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the ability of people to distinguish truth from falsehood despite media influences.
Thomas Jefferson highlights the resilience and discernment of the American people in their ability to withstand misinformation and recognize truth. He expresses confidence that they can handle the complexities of information from the press and make informed judgments, reflecting a deep trust in public intelligence and critical thinking.
Themes
TruthFalsehoodJudgmentPressTrust
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on media literacy, someone might quote Jefferson to emphasize the importance of critical thinking.
More from Thomas Jefferson
All quotes →We must make our choice between economy and liberty or confusion and servitude...If we run into such debts, we must be taxed in our meat and drink, in our necessities and comforts, in our labor and in our amusements...if we can prevent the government from wasting the labor of the people, under the pretense of caring for them, they will be happy.
Thomas JeffersonRead
Very many and very meritorious were the worthy patriots who assisted in bringing back our government to its republican tack. To preserve it in that, will require unremitting vigilance.
Thomas JeffersonRead
A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society.
Thomas JeffersonRead
Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.
Thomas JeffersonRead
There is not a sprig of grass that shoots uninteresting to me.
Thomas JeffersonRead
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