I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.
Interpretation
The quote advocates for the freedom of religious expression and opposes any attempts to favor one religion over others.
Thomas Jefferson emphasizes the importance of religious freedom, arguing that no single religion should hold legal power or supremacy over others. This belief in equality among different faiths is foundational to a just and democratic society, where individuals can worship freely without fear of discrimination or persecution based on their beliefs.
In practice
In a discussion about the importance of religious pluralism.
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.
I, place economy among the first & most important republican virtues, & public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared
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.
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.
A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society.
Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.
But no value has been put on human life; it is given to us free and taken without being paid for. What is it worth? If you look around, at times the value may seem to be little or nothing at all. Often after you have sweated and tried and things are not better for you, there comes a feeling deep down in the soul that you are not worth much.
She tried to pray, but she had only ever prayed at night, and it seemed to her that the moons made poor protectors when angels chose to hunt by day.
Human life is inherently creative. It's why we all have different résumés. … It's why human culture is so interesting and diverse and dynamic.
If a man be endowed with a generous mind, this is the best kind of nobility.
since some people had told me that I was ugly, I always preferred shade to the sun, darkness to light
I guess cause i'm black boy, I'm supposed to say 'peace', sing songs, and get capped on.
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