Those who live by mystery & charlatanerie, fearing you would render them useless by simplifying the Christian philosophy - the most sublime and benevolent, but most perverted system that ever shone on man - endeavored to crush your well-earned & well-deserved fame.
Interpretation
This quote critiques those who manipulate religious beliefs to maintain their own importance, fearing that clarity will expose their deceit.
In this quote, Thomas Jefferson highlights the conflict between genuine understanding of Christian philosophy and the actions of individuals who distort it for personal gain. He asserts that those who thrive on ambiguity and deception fear a simplified version of Christian teachings that might reveal their trickery, thus attempting to undermine the reputation of those who strive for truth and simplicity in their discourse.
In practice
In a discussion about the integrity of philosophical ideas in a debate setting.
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.
In my hometown of New Orleans, grief is a public spectacle that, somewhat paradoxically, necessitates celebration. The dead are not mourned so much as they are posthumously venerated with music and dance.
There will be no war, but in the pursuit of principle no stone will be left standing.
Truth uncompromisingly told will always have its ragged edges.
If you want to test cosmetics, why do it on some poor animal who hasn't done anything? They should use prisoners who have been convicted of murder or rape instead. So, rather than seeing if perfume irritates a bunny rabbit's eyes, they should throw it in Charles Manson's eyes and ask him if it hurts.
Like the generations of leaves, the lives of mortal men. Now the wind scatters the old leaves across the earth, now the living timber bursts with the new buds and spring comes round again. And so with men: as one generation comes to life, another dies away.
It was during the Reagan years that defiance of international law and the U.N. Charter became entirely open.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.