The wisdom of Thomas Jefferson

Whitens Moss

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Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped. His words ring with truth and wisdom today as never before.

At 5, began studying under his cousin's tutor.

At 9, studied Latin, Greek and French.

At 14, studied classical literature and additional languages.

At 16, entered the College of William and Mary.

At 19, studied Law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.

At 23, started his own law practice.

At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.

At 31, wrote the widely circulated "Summary View of the Rights of British America� and retired from his law practice.

At 32, was a Delegate to the Second Continental Congress.

At 33, wrote the Declaration of Independence .

At 33, took three years to revise Virginia 's legal code and wrote a Public Education bill and a statute for Religious Freedom.

At 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia succeeding Patrick Henry.

At 40, served in Congress for two years.

At 41, was the American minister to France and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams.

At 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington.

At 53, served as Vice President and was elected president of the American Philosophical Society.

At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active head of Republican Party.

At 57, was elected the third president of the United States .

At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase doubling the nation's size.

At 61, was elected to a second term as President.

At 65, retired to Monticello .

At 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.

At 81, almost single-handedly created the University of Virginia and served as its first president.

At 83, died on the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence along with John Adams.

Thomas Jefferson knew because he himself studied the previous failed attempts at government. He understood actual history, the nature of God, his laws and the nature of man. That happens to be way more than what most understand today. Jefferson really knew his stuff. A voice from the past to lead us in the future:

John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the white House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement: "This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe ." -- Thomas Jefferson

"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

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world."
-- 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

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." -- Thomas Jefferson

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson

"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."
-- Thomas Jefferson

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." -- Thomas Jefferson

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."
-- Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.

If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."
 
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I've read a number of books on Thomas Jefferson. He was probably the most astute and brilliant statesman in our history. He eclipses only John Adams.

Jefferson and Adams, although political rivals, jointly understood what America should be. It's a shame that their political heirs have corrupted the original intent, to what it is today.
 
I've read a number of books on Thomas Jefferson. He was probably the most astute and brilliant statesman in our history. He eclipses only John Adams.

Jefferson and Adams, although political rivals, jointly understood what America should be. It's a shame that their political heirs have corrupted the original intent, to what it is today.

I agree wholeheartedly.....don't let me get started or the MODS will ding me again!!! ;)

Don
 
John Kennedy summed it up when he made this statement before a large gathering of Nobel Prize winners at the White House.


"I think that this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."


f.t.

 
Jefferson was a brilliant man and probably the finest statesman this country has ever had, although his "manifest destiny" concept was a little rough on the Native American population and to this day has us embroiled in wars all over the globe where we are serving as savior and policeman to populations that by and large hate us. Not all well intentioned ideas always pan out the way they were meant to. Please do not take this as a ding on Jefferson whose greatness cannot be diminished, but only a reference to the complete history of his influence.
 
There was and is no way that the american indians would have hung on to their land and way of life had we stepped aside. Any and every other country in the world would have eventually taken over the western half of the country if even it were Jamaica had we not. One thing I do differ on is basically I am a isolationist with the lone exception of the protection of Israel. The bible says God would bless countrys that helped Israel and the ones that harm Israel gets the green weenie.
 
A new biography by Jon Meacham: "Thomas Jefferson, The Art of Power" is a great read. The author won the Pulitzer for his Andrew Jackson bio, "American Lion."
 
Oh, no; here we go again!

Mr. Jefferson was, indeed, a brilliant man. Your statements in the first part of your post honor him, However, attributing quotes to him that were not written/spoken by him dishonors the man.

The following linky may assist the readers in recognizing which quotations are authentic and attributable to Mr. Jefferson.

Chain Email with 10 Jefferson Quotations « Thomas Jefferson?s Monticello

Hope this helps.

Be safe.



Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped. His words ring with truth and wisdom today as never before.

At 5, began studying under his cousin's tutor.

At 9, studied Latin, Greek and French.

At 14, studied classical literature and additional languages.

At 16, entered the College of William and Mary.

At 19, studied Law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.

At 23, started his own law practice.

At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.

At 31, wrote the widely circulated "Summary View of the Rights of British America� and retired from his law practice.

At 32, was a Delegate to the Second Continental Congress.

At 33, wrote the Declaration of Independence .

At 33, took three years to revise Virginia 's legal code and wrote a Public Education bill and a statute for Religious Freedom.

At 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia succeeding Patrick Henry.

At 40, served in Congress for two years.

At 41, was the American minister to France and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams.

At 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington.

At 53, served as Vice President and was elected president of the American Philosophical Society.

At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active head of Republican Party.

At 57, was elected the third president of the United States .

At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase doubling the nation's size.

At 61, was elected to a second term as President.

At 65, retired to Monticello .

At 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.

At 81, almost single-handedly created the University of Virginia and served as its first president.

At 83, died on the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence along with John Adams.

Thomas Jefferson knew because he himself studied the previous failed attempts at government. He understood actual history, the nature of God, his laws and the nature of man. That happens to be way more than what most understand today. Jefferson really knew his stuff. A voice from the past to lead us in the future:

John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the white House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement: "This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe ." -- Thomas Jefferson

"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

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world."
-- 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

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." -- Thomas Jefferson

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson

"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."
-- Thomas Jefferson

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." -- Thomas Jefferson

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."
-- Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.

If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."
 
Sadly, we just don't produce men like that anymore.

I suspect that maybe we do, but they are far too smart to throw their lives and privacy to the wolves by entering the political circus.

They likely still serve the common good, but they choose to serve in other ways less prone to being consumed by hypocrites and fools.

Most of our greatest historical statesmen would never survive the demands and expectations required of modern politicians to be ideologically pure, politically orthodox, and unnaturally without flaw.
 
"If partcipation in public office is to be considered a right, how are vacancies to be obtained? Those by death are few, by resignation none."
Usually quoted as:
"Few die and none resign."
 
They were NOT politicians.

Our founding fathers were not politicians. They held real jobs (farmers, tradesmen, lawyers, etc.) and did not consider their government service to be their primary occupation or source of income.

Be safe.


I suspect that maybe we do, but they are far too smart to throw their lives and privacy to the wolves by entering the political circus.

They likely still serve the common good, but they choose to serve in other ways less prone to being consumed by hypocrites and fools.

Most of our greatest historical statesmen would never survive the demands and expectations required of modern politicians to be ideologically pure, politically orthodox, and unnaturally without flaw.
 
With all that going on, it's amazing he found time to fool around with the 'help.':D

Reminds me of Gregory Boyington's closing line of his autobiography. "Show me a hero, and I'll prove he's a bum."

(Before people get their under shorts all twisted up, I believe that Jefferson and the rest of the Founding Fathers were the right people, at the right time, to forge the greatest nation the world has ever seen, or will see. But they were people, and had flaws. And we can joke about said flaws.)
 
Without question , Thomas Jefferson was the best president this country has ever seen . He was highly intellegent , wise, and a straight shooter. Too bad people didn't listen .

Lewis
 
we need more people like him to run for office in the present day, but I don't know where they are.
 
I only wish that our politicians of today could look to the founding fathers of our country and learn from them...sadly the old saying "money is the root of all evil" is all to true today...the lobby system has corrupted our government to the brink of disaster...jmho
 
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