The quote When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. However, there is no evidence that he ever said or wrote this phrase. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which maintains his property at Monticello, could not find the saying in any of his writings. The expression may have been popularized by social activists in Australia in the 1990s.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Poster quote | "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty" |
Attribution | Thomas Jefferson |
Poster colour | White base |
Image | None |
What You'll Learn
- When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty is a quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson?
- The quote is popular among American liberals and anti-Trump activists
- The Thomas Jefferson Foundation calls the quote spurious
- The quote has also been attributed to Nelson Mandela
- The first known attribution of the quote to Jefferson was in 2006
When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty is a quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson
The quote "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty" has been attributed to Thomas Jefferson, one of America's Founding Fathers and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. However, there is no evidence that he ever said this. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which maintains his property at Monticello, could find no record of the saying in any of his writings.
The quote first appeared in 1993 when a member of Australia's Socialist Alliance used it in a statement protesting the detention of refugee children. It was first attributed to Jefferson in 2006, and has since been used in opposition to various political figures, including Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
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The quote is popular among American liberals and anti-Trump activists
The quote, "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty", is popular among American liberals and anti-Trump activists. The phrase has been used in opposition to former President Donald Trump and his policies.
The quote has been falsely attributed to Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. While Jefferson did believe in rebellion and wrote about the "spirit of resistance to government" in 1787, there is no evidence that he ever said or wrote the quote in question.
The quote's first known attribution to Jefferson was in 2006, although it had been in circulation for decades. It is believed that the phrase was actually popularized by social activists in Australia.
The quote has been used by liberals to oppose Trump and his policies, such as the Muslim ban, and to advocate for various social causes, including Black Lives Matter, women's rights, and abortion rights.
The quote has also been used in combination with images of the American flag, and with references to the Fourth of July, to emphasize the idea of resistance as a patriotic duty.
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The Thomas Jefferson Foundation calls the quote spurious
The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which maintains his property at Monticello, calls the quote "spurious", and there is no evidence that Jefferson ever said it. The first known attribution to Jefferson was in 2006, although the saying has been in circulation for decades.
The quote, "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty", has been used by both conservatives and liberals, with many liberal users placing a special significance on Jefferson sayings that invoke the word "resistance", a popular term that has come to represent opposition to President Donald Trump.
The expression has been credited to famous figures such as Thomas Jefferson and Nelson Mandela, but according to etymologist Barry Popik, there is no evidence that either person ever said it. Popik believes the phrase was actually popularized by social activists in Australia.
Despite the quote being misattributed to Jefferson, he did believe in rebellion, and some of his letters convey that sentiment. In 1787, he wrote, "The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere."
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The quote has also been attributed to Nelson Mandela
The quote, "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty", has been attributed to Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. However, there is no evidence that he ever said this. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which maintains his property at Monticello, could not find the saying in any of his writings.
> "The High Court of Australia's decision to keep refugee children imprisoned in detention centres makes it crystal clear that injustice has become law in this country. And when injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty."
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The first known attribution of the quote to Jefferson was in 2006
The quote "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty" has been attributed to Thomas Jefferson, although there is no evidence that he ever said it. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which maintains his property at Monticello, has been unable to find the saying in any of Jefferson's writings. Despite this, the quote is often shared online and used on posters, particularly by those protesting against political figures such as Donald Trump.
While Jefferson may not have coined the phrase, he did write the Declaration of Independence and expressed similar sentiments in his letters. For example, in 1787, he wrote, "The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive... I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere."
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Frequently asked questions
The quote is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. However, there is no evidence that he ever said it. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation calls the quote "spurious", and the first known attribution to Jefferson was in 2006.
The poster is about protesting against injustice and encouraging resistance. It is often associated with the Black Lives Matter movement and opposition to former US President Donald Trump.
The poster can be bought from online retailers such as Redbubble and Amazon.