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About this quote

What does it mean?
Jefferson observes that both politics and religion often glorify reformers who challenge established errors as martyrs.
In plain terms
Politics and religion honor those who risk death for their ideas.
What can you take from it?
Reformers are often remembered as martyrs in politics and faith.

Where it applies

  • social movements
  • religious history
  • political dissent

Putting it to work

  • honor reformers
  • study dissent

Questions to consider

  • Why do societies honor martyrs?
  • How does reform begin?

Another view

Not all reformers are honored; many remain ignored or condemned.

More from Thomas Jefferson

  1. Knowing that religion does not furnish grosser bigots than law, I expect little from old judges.

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  2. But though an old man, I am but a young gardener.

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  3. That we are overdone with banking institutions which have banished the precious metals and substituted a more fluctuating and unsafe medium, that these have wi…

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