God who gave us life gave us liberty. 1 Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever. 2 Commerce between master and slave is despotism. 3 Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than that these people are to be free. 4 Establish the law for educating the common people. 5 This it is the business of the State to effect and on a general plan. 6

Summary

This quote is from Thomas Jefferson and it conveys his belief in the inseparable connection between God, liberty, and justice. He argues that if a nation no longer acknowledges that their liberties are a gift from God, it puts those liberties at risk. Jefferson expresses concern for his country's future, recognizing that justice cannot be ignored indefinitely. He also condemns the act of allowing commerce between masters and slaves, seeing it as a form of tyranny. Finally, he emphasizes the importance of establishing laws to educate the common people, a responsibility he believes lies with the State as a whole.