“If, therefore, from the settlement of the Saxons, to the introduction of Christianity among them, that system of religion could not be a part of the common law, because they were not yet Christians; and if, having their laws from that period to the close of the common law, we are able to find among them no such act of adoption; we may safely affirm (though contradicted by all the judges and writers on earth) that Christianity neither is, nor ever was, a part of the common law.['Whether Christianity is Part of the Common Law?', letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, from Monticello, February 10, 1814]”

“A judge at common law may be an ordinary man; a good judge of a carpet must be a genius.”

“I have observed, indeed, generally, that while in protestant countries the defections from the Platonic Christianity of the priests is to Deism, in catholic countries they are to Atheism. Diderot, D'Alembert, D’Holbach, Condorcet, are known to have been among the most virtuous of men. Their virtue, then, must have had some other foundation than the love of God.[Letter to Thomas Law, 13 June 1814]”

“Some Christians make the mistake of pitting love against law, as if the two were mutually exclusive. You either have a religion of love or a religion of law. But such an equation is profoundly unbiblical.”

“I don't make the laws, I just enforce them.""Then remind me to introduce a new set of laws, since the ones we have clearly assume a level of common sense that's lacking.”

“The establishment of Protestant Christianity was one not only of law, but also, and far more importantly, of culture. Christianity supplied the nation with it's system of values.”