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
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.
I'm really intrigued by those eternal questions of creation and belief and faith. I don't care who you are, it's what we all think about. It's in the back of all our minds.
Death, I need my little addiction to you. I need that tiny voice who, even as I rise from the sea, all woman, all there, says kill me, kill me.
Even his griefs are a joy long after to one that remembers all that he wrought and endured.
What do you think, would not one tiny crime be wiped out by thousands of good deeds?
We have a tendency to condemn people who are different from us, to define their sins as paramount and our own sinfulness as being insignificant.
In English, my name means hope. In Spanish, it means too many letters. It means sadness. It means waiting. It is like the number nine, a muddy color.
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