I am a Conservative to preserve all that is good in our constitution, a Radical to remove all that is bad. I seek to preserve property and to respect order, and I equally decry the appeal to the passions of the many or the prejudices of the few.

Benjamin Disraeli
About This Quote

Thomas Jefferson said, “I am a Conservative to preserve all that is good in our constitution, a Radical to remove all that is bad. I seek to preserve property and to respect order, and I equally decry the appeal to the passions of the many or the prejudices of the few.” He was speaking about his views on politics. Jefferson believed that individuals should be left free to make their own choices in life. If someone wanted to, they should be able to choose their religion, drink alcohol, marry who they want, and sleep with whom they wish.

However, he also believed that people should not trample over other people’s rights or privileges. At times this can be challenging when it comes to health care reform. For instance, if an individual chooses not to eat meat or drink alcohol one day because of religious reasons, they should not be forced by government regulations to do something that goes against their beliefs.

And while it is true that many people are prejudiced against others based on their skin color or sexual orientation, there are laws in place to punish people who are bigoted. Jefferson’s quote illustrates his belief in freedom for all individuals yet also his desire for equal treatment for all citizens without prejudice or discrimination based on anything but an individual’s actions.

Some Similar Quotes
  1. Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job. - Douglas Adams

  2. Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth. - Paul Krugman

  3. Immer wieder behauptete Unwahrheiten werden nicht zu Wahrheiten, sondern, was schlimmer ist, zu Gewohnheiten. - Oliver Hassencamp

  4. What people want, mainly, is to be told by some plausible authority that what they are already doing is right. I don't know know of a quicker way to become unpopular than to disagree. - John Brunner

  5. A people religiously right, will not long remain politically wrong. - William Arnot

More Quotes By Benjamin Disraeli
  1. When men are pure, laws are useless; when men are corrupt, laws are broken.

  2. Most people die with their music still locked up inside them.

  3. Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for the truth.

  4. There are three types of lies -- lies, damn lies, and statistics.

  5. Time is precious, but truth is more precious than time.

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