“Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plenitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add “within the limits of the law” because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.”
- Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson, one of America’s Founding Fathers, was a man of accomplishment:
- He designed his house – the Montecello – at age 26,
- worked as a lawyer for eight years,
- was the 2nd Governor of Virginia,
- at age 33 wrote the Declaration of Independence (1775),
- drafted the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1777, became law in 1786),
- was the United States Ambassador to France (1785-1789)
- was Secretary of State under President George Washington (1790-1793),
- served as Vice President of the United States under President John Adams (1797-1801),
- served as America’s third President (1801-1809),
- created the United States Military Academy,
- founded the Democrat-Republican Party in 1790 (now known as the Republican Party),
- wrote one of America’s most influential early books (titled “Notes on the State of Virginia“) in 1800,
- doubled the size of America while President,
- established a US presence in the Louisiana territory,
- abolished the slave trade,
- donated his entire personal library to the Library of Congress after the British burned it out in 1814, and
- founded the University of Virginia.
All this and more before dying at 83 years old on July 4th, 1826.
Jefferson was a prolific writer, with an educated opinion on just about every topic important to America’s young Constitutional Republic. Here are just a few of his opinions:
On Wealth Redistribution:
To take from one, because it is thought that his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association: The guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry, & the fruits acquired by it.
- Thomas Jefferson, “Addition to Note for Destutt de Tracy’s Treatise on Political Economy” [ca. May 18, 1816]
On the Mainstream Media:
Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle. The real extent of this state of misinformation is known only to those who are in situations to confront facts within their knowledge with the lies of the day.
On the danger of banks and large businesses:
The end of democracy and the defeat of the American Revolution will occur when government falls into the hands of lending institutions and moneyed incorporations.
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 them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their Fathers conquered…I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies… The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.
And, if you have the time you can read over 540 more quotes by Thomas Jefferson by clicking this link.
Thanks for Reading!
