The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.

Thomas Jefferson

Notes on the State of Virginia

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More information about this quote

Topic

Freedom of religion Role of government Political theory

Author

Thomas Jefferson

Source

Notes on the State of Virginia

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1785 1780s 18th century

Occupation

Founding Father American President National leader Politician

From

United States

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas [published anonymously]. Notes on the State of Virginia. Paris: Philippe Denis Pierres, 1785, query 17.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Notes on the State of Virginia, edited by Frank Shuffelton. Penguin Classics, 1998, query 17.

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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Thomas Jefferson

I have sworn upon the altar of god, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.

Thomas Jefferson

More information about this quote
Topic
Opposition to tyranny

Author

Thomas Jefferson
Medium
Letter
Language
English
Time
1800 1800s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush. 23 Sept. 1800.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "Dr. Benjamin Rush, Sept. 23, 1800." The Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Including the Autobiography, The Declaration of Independence & His Public and Private Letters, edited by Adrienne Koch and William Peden. Modern Library, 1998.

Another quote from the 1780s

The triumph of hope over experience.

Samuel Johnson

Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, by James Boswell

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More information about this quote
Topic
Wishful thinking Second marriage
Speaker
Samuel Johnson

Author

James Boswell
Source
The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D
Genre
Biography
Language
English
Time
1784 1780s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, written by James Boswell. Vol. 1, London: Charles Dilly, 1791, "1770," aetat. 61.

Current Citation

Johnson, Samuel. Quoted in The Life of Samuel Johnson, written by James Boswell, edited by David Womersley. Penguin Classics, 2008.

Another quote about Political theory

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

John Adams

Read this letter at the National Archives website
More information about this quote
Topic
Morality and politics Political theory American experiment

Author

John Adams
Source
Letters of John Adams
Medium
Letter
Language
English
Time
1798 1790s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Adams, John. Letter to the Officers of the First Brigade of the Third Division of the Militia of Massachusetts. 11 Oct. 1798.