We must meet our duty and convince the world that we are just friends and brave enemies.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of acknowledging alliances and rivalries with respect and courage.
Thomas Jefferson's quote highlights the necessity of striking a balance between fulfilling our responsibilities and maintaining a cordial relationship with others. It suggests that even in conflict or competition, one should approach the situation with honor, presenting oneself as a friend to allies while being brave towards adversaries. This duality presents an understanding that courage and diplomacy go hand in hand.
In practice
During a team-building workshop, this quote can be used to encourage collaboration among colleagues with differing opinions.
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.
A true friend is the most precious of all possessions and the one we take the least thought about acquiring.
Friendships born on the field of athletic strife are the real gold of competition. Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust.
A chilly breeze that seemed to emanate from the heart of the forest lifted the hair at Harry's brow. He knew that they would not tell him to go, that it would have to be his decision. "You'll stay with me?" "Until the very end," said James.
When you're hanging out with your friends, you reference books and movies, and you don't always know if your friends know what you're referencing. But you throw it out there, and if it connects, it makes people laugh.
And I'm up while the dawn is breaking, even though my heart is aching. I should be drinking a toast to absent friends instead of these comedians.
Honest differences of opinion should never be permitted to destroy a friendship.
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