Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters

3. Moral philosophy. ... man was destined for society. his morality therefore was to be formed to this object. he was endowed with a sense of right & wrong merely relative to this. this sense is as much a part of his nature as the sense of hearing, seeing, feeling ... the moral sense, or conscience, is as much a part of man as his leg or arm. it is given to all human beings in a stronger or weaker degree, as force of members is given them in a greater or less degree [. . .]. it may be strengthened by exercise, as may any particular limb of the body.