Quote by Thomas Jefferson
I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and Constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.
Summary
This quote by Thomas Jefferson emphasizes the need for flexibility and adaptation in laws and institutions. Jefferson argues against inflexibility, asserting that as the human mind progresses and evolves, with new knowledge and changing societal values, laws and institutions should also evolve to match the changing circumstances. Comparing it to requiring a grown man to wear a coat that fit him as a boy, Jefferson highlights the absurdity of expecting modern society to adhere rigidly to the practices of ancestral generations. He advocates for a system that keeps pace with progress and enlightenment.
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