Our part is to pursue with steadiness what is right, turning neither to right nor left for the intrigues or popular delusions of the day, assured that the public approbation will in the end be with us.
Interpretation
Stay focused on doing what is right, regardless of public opinion or distractions.
This quote by Thomas Jefferson emphasizes the importance of steadfastness and integrity in pursuing what is morally correct. He suggests that one should not be swayed by societal trends or popular opinions, but instead remain committed to their principles, trusting that ultimately, the truth and righteousness will garner public support over time.
In practice
A leader can use this quote to inspire their team to focus on core values during challenging times.
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
We 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.
He possesses dominion over himself, and is happy, who can every day say, "I have lived." Tomorrow the heavenly father may either involve the world in dark clouds, or cheer it with clear sunshine, he will not, however, render ineffectual the things which have already taken place.
At the age of 60, I am less experimental and more mature. I want most of all to convey my understanding of life.
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure about you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.
There is no normal life that is free of pain. It's the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth.
There's a reason you can learn from everything: you have basic wisdom, basic intelligence, and basic goodness.
So with each advance in understanding come new questions. So we need to be very humble. We shouldn’t have hubris and think that we can understand everything. But history tells us that there is good reason to believe that we will continue making fantastic progress in the years ahead.
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