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Error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.

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In a republican nation, whose citizens are to be led by reason and persuasion and not by force, the art of reasoning becomes of first importance

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I may grow rich by an art I am compelled to follow I may recover health by medicines I am compelled to take against my own judgment but I cannot be sa...more

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I am satisfied, and sufficiently occupied with the things which are, without tormenting or troubling myself about those which may indeed be, but of wh...more

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I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.

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They (religions) dread the advance of science as witches do the approach of daylight and scowl on the fatal harbinger announcing the subversions of th...more

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The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty ...more

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Neither Pagan nor Mahamedan nor Jew ought to be excluded from the civil rights of the Commonwealth because of his religion. -quoting John Locke's argu...more

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If we could believe that he [Jesus] really countenanced the follies, the falsehoods, and the charlatanism which his biographers [Gospels] father on hi...more

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May it [American independence] be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of ...more

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May it [American independence] be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of ...more

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Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error.