“This doctrine ['that the condition of man cannot be ameliorated, that what has been must ever be, and that to secure ourselves where we are we must tread with awful reverence in the footsteps of our fathers']is the genuine fruit of the alliance between Church and State, the tenants of which finding themselves but too well in their present condition, oppose all advances which might unmask their usurpations and monopolies of honors, wealth and power, and fear every change as endangering the comforts they now hold.” MenWellsHas BeensStatesMightFatherChurchWealthConditionsHonorComfortFindingsFruitPositive AtheismGenuineDoctrineSecureAwfulReverenceMonopolyOur FatherAlliancesChurch And StateFootstepsTenantsUsurpationPower And Fear Book:Jefferson: Writings Source: Jefferson: Writings
“The errors of a wise man are literally more instructive than the truths of a fool. The wise man travels in lofty, far-seeing regions; the fool in low-lying, high-fenced lanes; retracing the footsteps of the former, to discover where he diviated, whole provinces of the universe are laid open to us; in the path of the latter, granting even that he has not deviated at all, little is laid open to us but two wheel-ruts and two hedges.” MenLittlesTwoWholeScienceLyingUniversePathWiseSeeingFoolLowsErrorsFormerWheelsLatterRegionsLanesFootstepsLoftyProvincesRutsTwo Wheels Book:The Works of Thomas Carlyle Source: The Works of Thomas Carlyle