Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.... Do not be frightened from this inquiry from any fear of its consequences. If it ends in the belief that there is no God, you will find incitements to virtue in the comfort and pleasantness you feel in its exercise.
Interpretation
Question everything, including the existence of God, with reason instead of fear.
In this quote, Thomas Jefferson encourages individuals to seek truth through reason and inquiry rather than accepting beliefs out of blind fear. He suggests that exploring the existence of God, whether one ultimately believes or not, can lead to a virtuous life filled with comfort and pleasantness derived from reasoned understanding.
In practice
During a philosophical discussion, one might say this quote to encourage deep questioning of beliefs.
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
βWe 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.
I can promise you none of these things. No sphere of usefulness; you are not needed there at all. No scope of your talents; only forgiveness for having perverted them. No atmosphere of inquiry, for I will bring you to the land not of questions but of answers, and you shall see the face of God. (pg 40)
I have discovered that all human evil comes from this, man's being unable to sit still in a room.
The Postmodernists' tyranny wears people down by boredom and semi-literate prose.
I hold that without truth and nonviolence there can be nothing but destruction of humanity.
The protection of the masses has in all times been the pretense of tyranny - the plea of monarchy, of aristocracy, of special privilege of every kind. The slave owners justified slavery as protecting the slaves.
My aim is to institute perpetual adoration," he said, for this is the "the most important activity.
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