I, place economy among the first & most important republican virtues, & public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared
Interpretation
Jefferson emphasizes the importance of economic prudence and warns against the dangers of public debt.
In this quote, Thomas Jefferson highlights the value he places on economic responsibility within a republic. He considers a sound economy as a cornerstone of good governance while simultaneously warning that relying on public debt poses a significant threat to the nation's integrity and stability. This perspective underlines the belief that fiscal discipline is crucial for the prosperity and survival of a democratic society.
In practice
During a town hall meeting focused on budgeting and public finance, one might reference this quote to stress the importance of fiscal responsibility.
The firmness with which the (American) people have withstood the... abuses of the press, the discernment they have manifested between truth and falsehood, show that they may safely be trusted to hear everything true and false and to form a correct judgment between them.
βWe must make our choice between economy and liberty or confusion and servitude...If we run into such debts, we must be taxed in our meat and drink, in our necessities and comforts, in our labor and in our amusements...if we can prevent the government from wasting the labor of the people, under the pretense of caring for them, they will be happy.
Very many and very meritorious were the worthy patriots who assisted in bringing back our government to its republican tack. To preserve it in that, will require unremitting vigilance.
A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society.
Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.
There is not a sprig of grass that shoots uninteresting to me.
You say that your fare told you that he was a detective?" "Yes, he did." "When did he say this?" "When he left me." "Did he say anything more?" "He mentioned his name." Holmes cast a swift glance of triumph at me. "Oh, he mentioned his name, did he? That was imprudent. What was the name that he mentioned?" βHis name," said the cabman, "was Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
Words are not that important when you recognize intentions.
We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.
Democracy will prevail when men believe the vote of Judas as good as that of Jesus Christ.
Necessity is the mother of taking chances.
It is true that we are called to create a better world. But we are first of all called to a more immediate and exalted task: that of creating our own lives.
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