Follow Truth

Jefferson makes us of the phrase "follow truth" at least twice, that we know of.

"This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it."
- Thomas Jefferson to William Roscoe, 27 December 1820[1]

"They [common-place books] were written at a time of life when I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge, never fearing to follow truth and reason to what-ever results they led, and bearding every authority which stood in their way."
- Thomas Jefferson to Dr. Thomas Cooper, 10 February 1814[2]

Footnotes

  1. L&B, 15:303. Polygraph copy at the Library of Congress.
  2. Peterson, Writings, 1321-1322. Polygraph copy at the Library of Congress.

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