Jefferson on Liberty

Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God?  That they are not to be violated but with His wrath?  (Thomas Jefferson)

Jefferson on Conscience

The true fountains of evidence are the head and heart of every rational and honest man.  It is there nature has written her moral laws, and where every man may read them for himself.  (Thomas Jefferson)

Jefferson on Outlawing Slavery

Whatever may have been the circumstances which influenced our forefathers to permit the introduction of personal bondage into any part of these states, and to participate in the wrongs committed on an unoffending quarter of the globe, we may rejoice that such circumstances, and such a sense of them, exist no longer. It is honorable in the nation at large that their Congress availed themselves of the first practicable moment for arresting the progress of this great moral and political error. (Thomas Jefferson)

Thomas Jefferson on Corrupt Government

In every government on earth is some trace of human weakness, some germ of corruption and degeneracy, which cunning will discover and wickedness insensibly open, cultivate, and improve.  (Thomas Jefferson)

Thomas Jefferson on Liberty of Worship

Among the most inestimable of our blessings is that liberty to worship our Creator in the way we think most agreeable to His will; a liberty deemed in other countries incompatible with good government, and yet proved by our experience to be its best support.  (Thomas Jefferson)

Jefferson on Honesty

Celebrating honesty, Jefferson observed,

The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest. (Thomas Jefferson)

Jefferson on Taxes

We do not mean that our people shall be burdened with oppressive taxes to provide sinecures for the idle or the wicked under color of providing for a civil list.  (Thomas Jefferson)

Jefferson on Free Speech

The liberty of speaking and writing guards our other liberties.  (Thomas Jefferson)

 

Jefferson on Government

When the Government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the Government, there is tyranny.

Jefferson on the Judiciary

Jefferson was an advocate for judicial restraint...

One single object...will merit the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation.

Jefferson on Veto

Speaking of veto power, Jefferson observed, 

The negative of the President can never be used more pleasingly to the public than in the protection of the Constitution.

Jefferson on Correct Spelling

Jefferson was an egalitarian advocate for correct spelling...

Take care that you never spell a word wrong. Always before you write a word, consider how it is spelled; and if you do not remember it, turn to a dictionary. It produces great praise to a lady to spell well. (Thomas Jefferson, to his wife Martha Jefferson)

Jefferson on Moral Law

Man has been subjected by his Creator to the moral law, of which his feelings, or conscience as it is sometimes called, are the evidence with which his Creator has furnished him.  (Thomas Jefferson)

Government Charity

If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they must be happy. (Thomas Jefferson)

Redistribution of Wealth

A Jeffersonian perspective on wealth redistribution.

To take from one, because it is thought 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 everyone the free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it. (Thomas Jefferson)

Political Partisanship

Of political divisiveness, Jefferson wrote, 

...Men have differed in opinion, and been divided into parties by these opinions, from the first origin of societies, and in all governments where they have been permitted freely to think and to speak. The same political parties which now agitate the United States have existed through all time.

Whether the power of the people or that of the aristocracy should prevail were questions which kept the states of Greece and Rome in eternal convulsions, as they now schismatize every people whose minds and mouths are not shut up by the gag of a despot." (Jefferson to John Adams)

The Thomas Jefferson Profile

In the spirit of Thomas Jefferson and other great people, we need to better identify what desirable qualities we seek in political leaders and candidates, before we vote any more of them into office.

Thomas Jefferson exemplifies the philosophy and ideals of freedom in the democratic republic.  Many of his thoughts are preserved for our consideration in his extensive writings and correspondence.  And the life of example in his acts is a matter of public record.  He and many others who served with such distinction in political leadership have set a course for us to follow.  Most ideally, we could use the examples of those who have gone before to create a profile of the character and attributes that we feel constitute a great political leader.

I believe such a measure is sorely needed.  In our day the people of this country no longer invest faith in our political leaders.  I am suggesting that perhaps we need to better identify what we seek in a politician, before we vote any more of them into office. Now is the moment to build such a criterion, before we again face the decision of who to vote for.

We need a better idea of what qualities we seek before we can make an informed and educated choice.

One of the first qualities Thomas Jefferson expressed concern about in this regard was that he felt the future of democratic society and good government depends on an informed and educated electorate.  I believe in this ideal, and would like to put the idea into action by promoting this Thomas Jefferson Profile.

Please contribute to building the profile with comments at the Thomas Jefferson Profile Facebook page, or on this blog.


Positive suggestions are solicited.