Quote by Thomas Jefferson
Was the government to prescribe to us our medicine and diet, our bodies would be in such keeping as our souls are now. Thus in France the emetic was once forbidden as a medicine, and the potatoe as an article of food.
Summary
This quote emphasizes the importance of individual freedom and the potential dangers of excessive government control. It suggests that if the government were to dictate our healthcare and diet choices, our physical well-being would face the same restrictions as our spiritual autonomy. The mention of historical examples, like the French prohibition on emetics and potatoes, serves to illustrate how arbitrary and misguided government interference can be, ultimately stifling personal choice and potentially leading to negative consequences for society.