FrumCA

This needs to be considered by all of us capable of understanding its importance.

There are two parts. Be sure to read the 2nd part (below the ********).

Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped.

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.. Also could write in Greek with one hand while writing the same in Latin with the other.

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."

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"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."

I wish we could get this out to everyone!

Raider Fan Loc: Lake County, IL.

Too bad there are no more like him in government!!

magicray Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

Was he a great statesman? Yes, however Thomas Jefferson was raised as an Anglican, but was influenced by English deists such as Bolingbroke and Shaftesbury. Thus in the spirit of the Enlightenment, he made the following recommendation to his nephew Peter Carr in 1787: "Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear."

Thomas Jefferson wrote in "The Declaration of Independence ", "All men are created equal" yet at the same time owned slaves.

magicray Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

There are many in Washington like him: lifeless, rotting, brain cavities filled with maggots.

Charmdragon Loc: Plymouth, Massachusetts

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

Jefferson was an enigma in many respects. The are many examples of of not practicing what he preached. Throughout his life he lived beyond his means and was consistently indebted. Unquestionably a learned individual with an endless source of forward thinking, yet one who shunned confrontation by having others fight his position.

Whether you are a fan of Jefferson or not, a visit to Monticello will reinforce the extent of his reach; personally and intellectually.

dlwhawaii Loc: Sunny Wailuku, Hawaii

If I remember correctly from my history classes many years ago, at the time of Jefferson, slaves were not considered men, but "animals" to be purchased, sold, bartered, etc, and thus not considered as being created equal.

dlwhawaii Loc: Sunny Wailuku, Hawaii

I believe I answered the second part of your response, however how did the first part of your response pertain in a negative way towards Jefferson or even relate to ?

dlwhawaii Loc: Sunny Wailuku, Hawaii

I believe I answered the second part of your response, however how did the first part of your response pertain in a negative way towards Jefferson or even relate to the OPs post?

travelwp Loc: New Jersey

All it takes is a Harvard graduate and a Nobel Prize winner.

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

I do not condone the ownership of slaves, but if we MUST take Jefferson out of context, let's at least be fair about it:
He did say "All men are created equal" but he did not suggest they all STAY equal, as that would be folly.

Lmarc Loc: Ojojona, Honduras

Both attributes of which are in doubt.......

travelwp Loc: New Jersey

Not to mention his birthplace.

filerunner Loc: Michigan

Looks like he couldn't hold a steady job.

magicray Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

I regarded it as a positive statement.

Dontrain Loc: Chicago suburb

The chronicler left out the dalliance with his house slave, Sally Hemings.

Great man, the old fox.