Thomas Jefferson, A Remarkable Man!

[Gillespie]

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

At 5, began studying under his cousins 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 waaay 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..

[AEW]

This should be framed and put in the hallway of the school

[Lois Sowa Stipp]

Very enlightening. Thank you!

[John Bolton]

TJ also sold his collection of 6500 books and manuscripts to the Government in order to start up the Library of Congress, which now contains 1.44 million books.....

However, I still cast a vote for ole' Ben Franklin as being, by far, the most important original framer ....culturally, legally and internationally of what we call the United States.

your results may differ.....

[BI Pirate]

Richie, Thanks for sharing, I agree he was a remarkable person. If we had followed the wisdom of our Founding Fathers we would be in good shape today.

To Whom It May Concern, Ben was also a remarkable man and he liked his rum. My only concern is that turkey thing he kept pushing. How could we have a turkey as the symbol for the USA and say to the world, "Fear this or suffer the wrath of the gobbler."?
We can discuss it further over a rum on Whiskey Island on a warmer day.

Skull&CrossBones

[John Bolton]

yes, the weather here is a frightful 65 degrees and a bit cloudy...

and speaking of turkeys,unlike the general voting public, I do not forget my position and so..... didnt I tell you before that I do not have conversations with folks who are too chickens%#t to reveal their identity?
You need to man up or (woman up, what ever the case) or shut the F*** up...
if you did grow a pair and revealed your identity and I missed it here on this forum, then
never mind and have a nice day

Hey Rich,
I thought you had to identify yourself on this forum??
( just playing by your rules here)

[Frank Solle]

And let's not forget the great number of slaves he bought, sold, and owned, not to mention sired children with. He did think it would be a good idea to free the slaves, but only if they were all deported back to Africa in order for them, as an inferior race, to not revolt and uprise against their former owners. I'm sure it was only part of the whole white, free, and property owner thing that was going around back then. So, in the end, a smart man who rose to the occasion of the times in which he lived, but did so, like all of us, with human frailties and failings.

[AEW]

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.h ... 838D649FDE

[Rory Connaghan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jef ... nd_slavery

[Keith Szczepanski]

Well said Frank.

[Joyce]

check out: http://www.snopes.com/quotes/jefferson/banks.asp

[Rahn]

Rich,

Good topic selection!