My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!
Interpretation
The quote highlights a lack of awareness among people about the unique blessings they possess.
Thomas Jefferson's quote underscores the idea that many people take for granted the abundant privileges and blessings that they have, which others around the world may not experience. It serves as a reminder to appreciate the advantages of one's circumstances and recognize them as rare gifts.
In practice
In a speech aimed at promoting national gratitude, this quote could remind citizens to appreciate their country.
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.
I, place economy among the first & most important republican virtues, & public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared
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.
Place principle above all else.
Civilization has given us enormous successes: going to the moon, technology. But then this is the civilisation that took us to debt, environmental crisis, every single crisis. We need a civilization where we say goodbye to these things.
If a crisis has come to you on any front, surrender your will to Jesus absolutely and irrevocably.
Things of which there is sight, hearing, apprehension, these I prefer.
Ideas, in a free society, are not a crime- and neither can they serve as the justification of a crime.
You've never seen death? Look in the mirror every day and you will see it like bees working in a glass hive.
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