Quotation: "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty."

Sources consulted:

  • Papers of Thomas Jefferson Digital Edition
  • Thomas Jefferson: Papers and Biographies collections in Hathi Trust Digital Library
  • Thomas Jefferson retirement papers

Other attributions: Henry David Thoreau

First known appearance in print, attributed to Thomas Jefferson: 2006[1]

Comments: This statement has not been found in Thomas Jefferson's writings, although it captures some of the ideas that Jefferson expressed in the Declaration of Independence, e.g. "...when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government..."

- Anna Berkes, 4/11/13

Further Sources