"In every country where man is free to think and to speak, differences of opinion will arise from difference of perception, and the imperfection of reason; but these differences when permitted, as in this happy country, to purify themselves by free discussion, are but as passing clouds overspreading our land transiently and leaving our horizon more bright and serene." --Thomas Jefferson
The Benefits of the Exchange of Information and Opinions
"Nothing but good can result from an exchange of information and opinions between those whose circumstances and morals admit no doubt of the integrity of their views." --Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry, 1797. ME 9:385
"Men, according to their constitutions and the circumstances in which they are placed, differ honestly in opinion. Some are whigs, liberals, democrats, call them what you please. Others are tories, serviles, aristocrats, etc." --Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 1825. ME 16:96
"In every country where man is free to think and to speak, differences of opinion will arise from difference of perception, and the imperfection of reason; but these differences when permitted, as in this happy country, to purify themselves by free discussion, are but as passing clouds overspreading our land transiently and leaving our horizon more bright and serene." --Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Waring, 1801. ME 10:235
"I am myself an empiric in natural philosophy, suffering my faith to go no further than my facts. I am pleased, however, to see the efforts of hypothetical speculation, because by the collisions of different hypotheses, truth may be elicited and science advanced in the end." --Thomas Jefferson to George P. Hopkins, 1822. ME 15:394
"One sentence of [M. de Buffon's] book must do him immortal honor: 'I love a man who frees me from an error as much as one who apprehends me of a truth, for in effect an error corrected is a truth.'" --Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia Q.VI, 1782. ME 2:72
"By oft repeating an untruth, men come to believe it themselves." --Thomas Jefferson to John Melish, 1813. ME 13:212
"I have learned to be less confident in the conclusions of human reason, and give more credit to the honesty of contrary opinions." --Thomas Jefferson to Edward Livingston, 1824. ME 16:23
"The known bias of the human mind from motives of interest should lessen the confidence of each party in the justice of their reasoning." --Thomas Jefferson to James Ross, 1786. ME 5:323
"All know the influence of interest on the mind of man, and how unconsciously his judgment is warped by that influence." --Thomas Jefferson: Autobiography, 1821. ME 1:121
"The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees, in every object, only the traits which favor that theory." --Thomas Jefferson to Charles Thompson, 1787. ME 6:312
"I see too many proofs of the imperfection of human reason to entertain wonder or intolerance at any difference of opinion on any subject, and acquiesce in that difference as easily as on a difference of feature or form, experience having long taught me the reasonableness of mutual sacrifices of opinion among those who are to act together for any common object, and the expediency of doing what good we can when we cannot do all we would wish." --Thomas Jefferson to John Randolph, 1803. ME 10:436
"Differing on a particular question from those whom I knew to be of the same political principles with myself, and with whom I generally thought and acted, a consciousness of the fallibility of the human mind and of my own in particular, with a respect for the accumulated judgment of my friends, has induced me to suspect erroneous impressions in myself, to suppose my own opinion wrong, and to act with them on theirs. The want of this spirit of compromise, or of self-distrust, proudly but falsely called independence, is what gives [some opponents] victories which they could never obtain if these brethren could learn to respect the opinions of their friends more than of their enemies, and prevents many able and honest men from doing all the good they otherwise might do. These considerations... have often quieted my own conscience in voting and acting on the judgment of others against my own... All honest and prudent men [should] sacrifice a little of self-confidence, and... go with their friends, although they may sometimes think they are going wrong." --Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 1811. ME 13:50
"I tolerate with the utmost latitude the right of others to differ from me in opinion without imputing to them criminality." --Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 1804. ME 11:52
"That there should be a contrariety of opinions respecting the public agents and their measures,... is ever to be expected among free men." --Thomas Jefferson: Reply to Leesburg Republicans, 1809. ME 16:352
"Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle." --Thomas Jefferson: 1st Inaugural, 1801. ME 3:319
"Others... may condemn what they would not if seen in all its parts." --Thomas Jefferson: 1st Inaugural Address, 1801. ME 3:323
"When a man whose life has been marked by its candor, has given a latter opinion contrary to a former one, it is probably the result of further inquiry, reflection and conviction." --Thomas Jefferson to Peregrine Fitzhugh, 1797. ME 9:379
"With the same honest views, the most honest men often form different conclusions." --Thomas Jefferson to Robert Livingston, 1801. ME 10:284
"With a man possessing so many other estimable qualities, why should we be dissocialized by mere difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, or anything else?" --Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Rush, 1811. ME 13:116
"Men, according to their constitutions and the circumstances in which they are placed, differ honestly in opinion. Some are whigs, liberals, democrats, call them what you please. Others are tories, serviles, aristocrats, etc." --Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 1825. ME 16:96
"In every country where man is free to think and to speak, differences of opinion will arise from difference of perception, and the imperfection of reason; but these differences when permitted, as in this happy country, to purify themselves by free discussion, are but as passing clouds overspreading our land transiently and leaving our horizon more bright and serene." --Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Waring, 1801. ME 10:235
"I am myself an empiric in natural philosophy, suffering my faith to go no further than my facts. I am pleased, however, to see the efforts of hypothetical speculation, because by the collisions of different hypotheses, truth may be elicited and science advanced in the end." --Thomas Jefferson to George P. Hopkins, 1822. ME 15:394
"One sentence of [M. de Buffon's] book must do him immortal honor: 'I love a man who frees me from an error as much as one who apprehends me of a truth, for in effect an error corrected is a truth.'" --Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia Q.VI, 1782. ME 2:72
"By oft repeating an untruth, men come to believe it themselves." --Thomas Jefferson to John Melish, 1813. ME 13:212
"I have learned to be less confident in the conclusions of human reason, and give more credit to the honesty of contrary opinions." --Thomas Jefferson to Edward Livingston, 1824. ME 16:23
"The known bias of the human mind from motives of interest should lessen the confidence of each party in the justice of their reasoning." --Thomas Jefferson to James Ross, 1786. ME 5:323
"All know the influence of interest on the mind of man, and how unconsciously his judgment is warped by that influence." --Thomas Jefferson: Autobiography, 1821. ME 1:121
"The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees, in every object, only the traits which favor that theory." --Thomas Jefferson to Charles Thompson, 1787. ME 6:312
"I see too many proofs of the imperfection of human reason to entertain wonder or intolerance at any difference of opinion on any subject, and acquiesce in that difference as easily as on a difference of feature or form, experience having long taught me the reasonableness of mutual sacrifices of opinion among those who are to act together for any common object, and the expediency of doing what good we can when we cannot do all we would wish." --Thomas Jefferson to John Randolph, 1803. ME 10:436
"Differing on a particular question from those whom I knew to be of the same political principles with myself, and with whom I generally thought and acted, a consciousness of the fallibility of the human mind and of my own in particular, with a respect for the accumulated judgment of my friends, has induced me to suspect erroneous impressions in myself, to suppose my own opinion wrong, and to act with them on theirs. The want of this spirit of compromise, or of self-distrust, proudly but falsely called independence, is what gives [some opponents] victories which they could never obtain if these brethren could learn to respect the opinions of their friends more than of their enemies, and prevents many able and honest men from doing all the good they otherwise might do. These considerations... have often quieted my own conscience in voting and acting on the judgment of others against my own... All honest and prudent men [should] sacrifice a little of self-confidence, and... go with their friends, although they may sometimes think they are going wrong." --Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 1811. ME 13:50
"I tolerate with the utmost latitude the right of others to differ from me in opinion without imputing to them criminality." --Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 1804. ME 11:52
"That there should be a contrariety of opinions respecting the public agents and their measures,... is ever to be expected among free men." --Thomas Jefferson: Reply to Leesburg Republicans, 1809. ME 16:352
"Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle." --Thomas Jefferson: 1st Inaugural, 1801. ME 3:319
"Others... may condemn what they would not if seen in all its parts." --Thomas Jefferson: 1st Inaugural Address, 1801. ME 3:323
"When a man whose life has been marked by its candor, has given a latter opinion contrary to a former one, it is probably the result of further inquiry, reflection and conviction." --Thomas Jefferson to Peregrine Fitzhugh, 1797. ME 9:379
"With the same honest views, the most honest men often form different conclusions." --Thomas Jefferson to Robert Livingston, 1801. ME 10:284
"With a man possessing so many other estimable qualities, why should we be dissocialized by mere difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, or anything else?" --Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Rush, 1811. ME 13:116
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Proverbs 13:10 - - Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Must we take advice from someone we truly disagree with? (13:10) - - The danger is in being too proud to listen. A proud person is argumentative, quarrelsome and automatically rejects advice. Wise people listen to counsel and consider it before deciding to accept or reject it.
Proverbs 19:27 - - Stop listening to instruction my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Proverbs 28:23 - - He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.
Proverbs 29:1 - - A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed – without remedy.
What does stiff-necked mean? (29:1) - - It describes a stubborn person who resists correction or challenges to his character. The opposite would be a submissive attitude pictured by a bending neck. The same term is applied in 28;14 to a rebellious person, who is described as having a stiff or hard heart.
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