Why do Y!A Libs wrongly attribute the "dissent" quote to Thomas Jefferson?

Question

"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." - Thomas Jefferson.

So many Libs make this false attribution. Look at Henry's answer in this thread:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Atmd8xqJSShu4o_tzOzTzqrsy6IX?qid=20070706093119AAsgeiS&show=7#profile-info-3IaD8rO7aa

Trouble is, Jefferson never said it. Historians agree he never said it. Even the Jefferson historical web site says that Jefferson never said it:

http://www.monticello.org/library/reference/spurious.html

So, why to Y!A libs keep wrongly attributing the dissent quote to Jefferson?

Answer 1

never NEVER, EEEEVER confuse a libs arguement with facts.....they dont

Answer 2

Apparently someone is misquoting the Great Jefferson but here are some paraphrases that say basically the same sort of thing that are actual quotes of Jefferson.

Paraphrased:
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote/thomas_jefferson_quote_6525
or this one:
"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive." Thomas Jefferson says much the same thing.

Changing the subject a bit here is another good Jefferson Quote:
Governments constantly choose between telling lies and fighting wars, with the end result always being the same. One will always lead to the other.

~Thomas Jefferson

The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to.

~Thomas Jefferson

I couldn't find the exact quote either. It looks like we have been duped.

Answer 3

I am a Liberal, and the only idea I can offer is that people are not paying attention. I remember the first time I read that, and it was about a year ago, and it was attributed to some political analyst or professor or something. Since I have read him (not everything, by a long shot, but some of his writing), the only thing that really stands out in my mind at the moment that he said about patriotism is: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." That one was made famous by our own homegrown terrorist, Timothy McVeigh. If I recall, he had a T-shirt that had that quote on it. I remember the quote simply because I underlined it when I read it and was able to identify it when it was associated with Tim McVeigh. I do wish people, regardless of their political stripes, would bother to actually read something before they begin quoting it. I find made up quotations tiresome...

Answer 4

Although Jefferson didn't say it, he probably would have agreed with it as attested by this quote from him:

“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.”

but to answer your question, Liberals probably erred here for the same reason Conservatives on yahoo think the quote "God helps those who help themselves" is a biblical quote.

Answer 5

Damn, there are a lot of quotes attributed to Jefferson that he never said. Thanks of the link!

I know some NRA members who'll be pissed t learn he never said:

"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."

And I know some folks who want to see prayer in school who'll be pissed he never said:

"Sir, no nation has ever yet existed or been governed without religion. Nor can be. The Christian religion is the best religion that has been given to man, and I as chief magistrate of this nation am bound to give it the sanction of my example."

It looks like both sides love to take clever, convenient phrases and attribute them to Jefferson to prop up their agendas.

Answer 6

It is normal to want to attribute a quote that can help yourself out to one of the greatest and smartest men in history. Thomas Jefferson was so smart that it is said that a table of men in the White House in modern times with their brainpower combined could not beat the brainpower of only Thomas Jefferson sitting at a table, alone.

Answer 7

He didn't say that. Howard Zinn said it. But I'm sure he was thinking of Thomas Jefferson when he said it.

“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.”

"Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government...”

Answer 8

I don't know... why do conservatives wrongly believe that they personally knew the founding fathers and can state, as fact, what they did or did not say or mean or intone, or even think?

Aside from dementia, of course... which isn't the answer to your question... just part of the answer to mine.

Answer 9

I've heard plenty of conservatives try to say Abraham Lincoln made a statement about hanging members of congress who oppose war. many people use false quotes to try and support their stance. But to be fair, many think they are real quotes.

Answer 10

It happens with many quotes...people think the person who popularized it, said it first. Just like 'success has a thousand fathers, but failure is an orphan' many times is attributed to JFK,,,and he didn't say it first either.

Answer 11

your posting your thoughts on a public website. what do you expect? everyone has there own opinons. a liberals opinion is that everyone should not be treated badly for their appearence, thoughts, etc. but, that doesn't mean that people cant be treated differently for how hard they work at something (with money and stuff) but that is just my opinion.