Who said “I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over…”?

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Thomas Jefferson. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceOn members of the clergy who sought to establish some form of "official" Christianity in the U.S. government. Letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush (23 September 1800)

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“I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.”
— Thomas Jefferson
VerifiedOn members of the clergy who sought to establish some form of "official" Christianity in the U.S. government. Letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush (23 September 1800) · evidenceTyranny
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: On members of the clergy who sought to establish some form of "official" Christianity in the U.S. government. Letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush (23 September 1800).

APA

Jefferson, T. (n.d.). I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39797-i-have-sworn-upon-the-altar-of-god/

MLA

Jefferson, Thomas. “I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39797-i-have-sworn-upon-the-altar-of-god/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Jefferson, Thomas. “I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39797-i-have-sworn-upon-the-altar-of-god/.

Related quotes

More quotes by Thomas Jefferson

“The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.”
VerifiedSummary View of the Rights of British America (1774); The Writings of Thomas Jefferson (19 Vols., 1905) edited by Andrew A. Lipscomb and Albert Ellery Bergh, Vol. 1, p. 211 · evidenceDetails & citeLiberty
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