The wisdom of Thomas Jefferson.
By 
Introduction
In my view the most brilliant mind since Leonardo da Vinci was Thomas Jefferson. He has been a personal hero since I started insatiably reading history 45 years ago. To my knowledge, he never said anyting of import with which I disagree. I have over 300 quotes in my reference database. Here are a few that I believe are timely.
"I disapproved from the first moment... the want of a bill of rights to guard liberty against the legislative as well as the executive branches of the government."
Commenting on the lack of a bill of rights in the original Constitution.
"A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular; and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inferences."
In a letter to James Madison lobbying for a bill of rights.
"It astonishes me to find... [that so many] of our countrymen... should be contented to live under a system which leaves to their governors the power of taking from them the trial by jury in civil cases, freedom of religion, freedom of the press,
Continued
freedom of commerce, the habeas corpus laws, and of yoking them with a standing army. This is a degeneracy in the principles of liberty... which I [would not have expected for at least] four centuries."
In a letter William Stephens Smith. I can think of a few government officials today who could stand to brush up on their Jefferson.
"By a declaration of rights, I mean one which shall stipulate freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of commerce against monopolies, trial by juries in all cases, no suspensions of the habeas corpus, no standing armies.
Continued
These are fetters against doing evil which no honest government should decline."
In a letter to Alexander Donald. Another passage that could stand some review by many of today's leaders.
"Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government."
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
"Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty."
An educated populace is the best antidote to tyranny. (That one is mine.)
"Experience demands that man is the only animal which devours his own kind, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor. "
I don't think I need to comment here.
"Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny."
Well, they hadn't invented the dictionary, or spell check yet.
"For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security. "
Seems pretty clear that this is what they were talking about in the second amendment. If Jefferson were alive today, he and his militia would be marching on Washington D.C.
"He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors."
Dedicated to Ms. Wallace.
"I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind. "
Gotta agree with this one.
"I am mortified to be told that, in the United States of America, the sale of a book can become a subject of inquiry, and of criminal inquiry too. "
I used this quotation when I addressed the Olathe, KS school board after they had pulled all gay themed books out of the district's libraries.
"I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature."
To quote Astro, "Rauh rhow"
"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."
Most people wrongly arttribute this to Mark Twain or Will Rogers.
"I have recently been examining all the known superstitions of the world, and do not find in our particular superstition (Christianity) one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology."
So much for the whole "this country was founded as a Christian nation" argument.
"I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be."
Yeah, me too Tom, but it ain's looking so good right now.
"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend."
Nor have I.
"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it. "
Again, try to relate this to today.
"If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send one hundred and fifty lawyers, whose trade it is to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour? "
Alas, it is as it has always been.
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock."
I'm trying Tom.
"It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. "
"It is in our lives and not our words that our religion must be read. "
"Never trouble another for what you can do for yourself."-Thomas Jefferson
"Never spend your money before you have it."-Thomas Jefferson
I visited Monticello some time back and was amazed at his design and intellect. His Great Clock in the foyer was very impressive as well as his library.
"Never spend your money before you have it."-Thomas Jefferson
I visited Monticello some time back and was amazed at his design and intellect. His Great Clock in the foyer was very impressive as well as his library.
Great list olhippie. Words of wisdom, even today.
A couple "prime" quotes from Canada....
A proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof. And when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven.
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
----------------------------------------------------------
We shall be Canadians first, foremost, and always, and our policies will be decided in Canada and not dictated by any other country.
Prim e Minister John G. Diefenbaker
----------------------------------------------------------
If you don't believe your country should come before yourself, you can better serve your country by livin' someplace else.
Canadian Entertainer Stompin' Tom Connors :)
A couple "prime" quotes from Canada....
A proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof. And when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven.
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
----------------------------------------------------------
We shall be Canadians first, foremost, and always, and our policies will be decided in Canada and not dictated by any other country.
Prim e Minister John G. Diefenbaker
----------------------------------------------------------
If you don't believe your country should come before yourself, you can better serve your country by livin' someplace else.
Canadian Entertainer Stompin' Tom Connors :)
Thanks for the dedication old hippie, I guess. But which group am I in? He who knows nothing, or he whose head is filled with falsehood? I know you probably meant that to be sarcastic, but I always try to turn the other cheek. :)
"Slavery," said T.J., "is like holding a wolf by the ears." My pop used that expression many times when a difficult decision seemed to have no easy answer.
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Thomas Jefferson
Thank God so many of his writings; letters, books, etc. have survived. A wiser American has not lived.
Thomas Jefferson
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Thomas Jefferson
Thank God so many of his writings; letters, books, etc. have survived. A wiser American has not lived.
By 
By 
By 
By 
By 
By
6 Comments