Thoreau, Henry David -- A Week on the Concord and Marrimack Rivers, “Sunday” (1849)

Dave — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:51:04 +0000

It is remarkable, that notwithstanding the universal favor with which the New Testament is outwardly received, and even the bigotry with which it is defended, there is no hospitality shown to, there is no appreciation of, the order of truth with which it deals. I know of no book that has so few readers. There is none so truly strange, and heretical, and unpopular.

Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) American philosopher and writer
A Week on the Concord and Marrimack Rivers, “Sunday” (1849)
(Source)

Jefferson, Thomas -- Letter (1820-04-13) to William Short

Dave — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 18:44:33 +0000

Among the sayings & discourses imputed to [Jesus] by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of the most lovely benevolence: and others again of so much ignorance, so much absurdity, so much untruth, charlatanism, and imposture, as to pronounce it impossible that such contradictions should have proceeded from the same being. I separate therefore the gold from the dross; restore to him the former, & leave the latter to the stupidity of some, and roguery of others of his disciples. Of this band of dupes and impostors, Paul was the great Coryphaeus, and first corrupter of the doctrines of Jesus. These palpable interpolations and falsifications of his doctrines led me to try to sift them apart.

Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American political philosopher, polymath, statesman, US President (1801–09)
Letter (1820-04-13) to William Short
(Source)

On his personally abridged edition of the Bible.

WIST Quotations

Thoreau, Henry David -- A Week on the Concord and Marrimack Rivers, “Sunday” (1849)

Jefferson, Thomas -- Letter (1820-04-13) to William Short