No government ought to be without censors; and where the press is free, no one ever will. If virtuous, it need not fear the fair operation of attack and defense. Nature has given to man no other means of sifting out the truth, either in religion, law, or

Hans Moller, "No government ought to be without censors; and where the press is free, no one ever will. If virtuous, it need not fear the fair operation of attack and defense. Nature has given to man no other means of sifting out the truth, either in religion, law, or politics."--Thomas Jefferson, 1792. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man., 1951, gouache on paper mounted on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.218
Hans Moller, "No government ought to be without censors; and where the press is free, no one ever will. If virtuous, it need not fear the fair operation of attack and defense. Nature has given to man no other means of sifting out the truth, either in religion, law, or, 1951, gouache on paper mounted on paperboard, sheet: 23 1420 34 in. (59.252.6 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.218

Artwork Details

Title
No government ought to be without censors; and where the press is free, no one ever will. If virtuous, it need not fear the fair operation of attack and defense. Nature has given to man no other means of sifting out the truth, either in religion, law, or politics.” – Thomas Jefferson, 1792. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man.
Artist
Date
1951
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
sheet: 23 1420 34 in. (59.252.6 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Container Corporation of America
Mediums
Mediums Description
gouache on paper mounted on paperboard
Classifications
Subjects
  • Portrait male — Jefferson, Thomas — head
  • Occupation — political — president
Object Number
1984.124.218

Works by this artist (2 items)

Hans Moller, "No government ought to be without censors; and where the press is free, no one ever will. If virtuous, it need not fear the fair operation of attack and defense. Nature has given to man no other means of sifting out the truth, either in religion, law, or politics."--Thomas Jefferson, 1792. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man., 1951, gouache on paper mounted on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.218
No government ought to be without censors; and where the…
Date1951
gouache on paper mounted on paperboard
Not on view
Hans Moller, "False facts are highly injurious to the progress of science, for they often endure long; but false views, if supported by some evidence, do little harm, for everyone takes a salutary pleasure in proving their falseness; and when this is done, one path towards error is closed and the road to truth is often at the same time opened."--Charles Darwin on false facts vs. false views, The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, 1871. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man., 1954, gouache on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.217
False facts are highly injurious to the progress of…
Date1954
gouache on paperboard
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Jacob Lawrence, "In a free government, the security of civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights. It consists in the one case in the multiplicity of interests, and in the other, in the multiplicity of sects."--James Madison, The Federalist Papers, 1788. From the series Great Ideas., 1976, opaque watercolor and pencil on paper mounted on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.170
In a free government, the security of civil rights must be…
Date1976
opaque watercolor and pencil on paper mounted on fiberboard
Not on view
Summer Sun
Date1964
gouache on paper
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A. Mouron Cassandre, First In Research, from the Early Series, 1937, gouache on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.53
First In Research, from the Early Series
Date1937
gouache on paperboard
Not on view
Velino Shije Herrera, Calf Roping, ca. 1925-1935, gouache on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Corbin-Henderson Collection, gift of Alice H. Rossin, 1979.144.78
Calf Roping
Dateca. 1925-1935
gouache on paperboard
Not on view