Thomas Jefferson’s Wisdom, Set in Stone
These are the 4 inside walls of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC.
I am not an advocate for frequent
changes in laws and constitutions.
But laws and institutions must go
hand in hand with the progress
of the humand mind. As that becomes
more developed, more enlightened,
as new discoveries are made, new
truths discovered and manners and
opinions change, with the change
of circumstances, institutions
must advance also to keep pace
with the times. We might as well
require a man to wear still the
coat which fitted him when a boy
as civilized society to remain
ever under the regimen of their
barbarous ancestors.
We hold these truths to be self-
evident: that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their
creator with certain inalienable
rights, among these are life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness, that
to secure these rights governments
are instituted among men. we …
solemnly publish and declare, that
these colonies are and of right
ought to be free and independent
states … and for the support of this
declaration, with a firm reliance
on the protection of divine
providence, we mutually pledge
our lives, our fortunes and our
sacred honour.
Almighty God hath created the
mind free. All attempts to influence
it by temporal punishments or
burthens … are a departure from
the plan of the holy author of
our religion … no man shall be
compelled to frequent or support
any religious worship or ministry
or shall otherwise suffer on
account of his religious opinions
or belief, but all men shall be
free to profess and by argument
to maintain, their opinions in
matters of religion. I know
but one code of morality for
men whether acting singly or
collectively.
God who gave us life gave us
liberty. Can the liberties of a
nation be secure when we have
removed a conviction that these
liberties are the gift of God?
Indeed I tremble for my country
when I reflect that God is just,
that his justic cannot sleep for-
ever. Commerce between master
and slave is despotism. Nothing
is more certainly written in the
book of fate than that these
people are to be free. Establish
the law for educating the common
people. This it is the business
of the state to effect and on
a general plan.
The rest of my photos from Washington DC can be found here:
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