I discharge every person under punishment or prosecution under the Sedition Law, because I considered, and now consider, that law to be a nullity as absolute and palpable as if Congress had ordered us to fall down and worship a golden image.
Interpretation
Thomas Jefferson expresses his belief that the Sedition Law is fundamentally invalid and unjust.
In this quote, Thomas Jefferson asserts that he views the Sedition Law as utterly illegitimate, equating its enforcement to an absurd directive to worship a golden idol. Jefferson's perspective reflects his commitment to individual liberties and his rejection of laws that he deems oppressive or contrary to fundamental rights.
In practice
During a speech on civil liberties, one might reference this quote to emphasize the importance of rejecting unjust laws.
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.
Has God decreed all things that come to pass? Then there is nothing that falls out by chance, nor are we to ascribe what we meet with either to good or ill luck and fortune. There are many events in the world which men look upon as mere accidents, yet all these come by the counsel and appointment of Heaven.
Let not that man think he makes any progress in holiness who walks not over the bellies of his lusts. He who doth not kill sin in this way takes no steps toward his journey's end.
It was the experience of mystery - even if mixed with fear - that engendered religion.
Which of us can resist the temptation of being thought indispensable?
When birds look into houses, what impossible worlds they see.
But you who walk facing the sun, what images drawn on the earth can hold you?
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