“Those who expect to be both ignorant and free, expect what never was and never will be.”

— Thomas Jefferson

Variant: If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.

Last update June 3, 2021. History

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Thomas Jefferson456

3rd President of the United States of America 1743–1826

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“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free,” said Jefferson, “it expects what never was and never will be.”

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A similar remark was made in a letter to John Gay (16 October 1727): "I have many years magnify'd in my own mind, and repeated to you a ninth Beatitude, added to the eight in the Scripture: Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed."
Variant: Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.
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