Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man, who had a voracious appetite and thirst for knowledge and learning which started very early in his life and which continued until just before his death when he was already in his 80s.    Because of the above, he also became one of the most productive citizens of the U.S.A. and the world.

At age 5, he began his formal education under his cousin's tutor.

At age 9, he learned Latin, Greek, and French. 

At 14, he studied classical literature and more languages.

At 16, he entered the College of William and Mary and was also notable for his ability to write simultaneously in Greek with one hand and in Latin with the other.

At 19, he started to study Law under George Wythe.

At 23, he set up his own law practice. 

At 25, he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.

At 31, he wrote the widely circulated Summary & View of the Rights of British America and retired from his law practice. *

At 32, he was chosen as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress.

At 33, he helped to draft the Declaration of Independence.    He also helped to revise Virginia's legal code,  wrote a public education bill and a statute of religious freedom.

At 36, he was elected as the second Governor of Virginia succeeding Patrick Henry.

At 40, he was elected to a two-year term in the U.S. Congress.

At 41, he  [along with Benjamin Franklin and John Adams],  was part of the American delegation to France  in which he helped to negotiate commercial treaties with various European nations.

At 46, he served as Secretary of State under George Washington.

At 53, he served as U. S. Vice President, and was elected president of the American Philosophical Society. 

At 55, he helped draft the Kentucky Resolutions and became the head of the Democratic-Republican Party (which opposed the Federalist Party).

At 57, he was elected as the third President of the United States.

At 60, he helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase which doubled the USA's territory.

At 61, he was re-elected [to his second term] as U.S. President.

At 65, he went into full retirement in his estate in Virginia -- the Monticello. 

At 80, he helped draft the Monroe Doctrine.

At 81, he almost single-handedly created the University of Virginia and served as its first president. 

At 83, he died on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Jefferson was also an avid student of the nature of God,  God's laws,  and the nature of man.  

  

At a White House dinner hosted by the then U. S. President, John Kennedy, which was attended by a group of the nation's brightest minds, JFK said:  "...This is, perhaps, the first assembly of the nation's most intelligent minds ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone..."

Below are some of Jefferson’s most memorable and significant statements:

"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe ." 

"Democracy will cease to exist when you take away wealth from those who are willing to work, and give it to those who would not." 

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.  This is a principle which, if acted upon, would save one-half the wars of the world." 

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors [& taxes] of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." 

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." 

"No free man should ever be barred  from the use of arms." 

"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." 

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." 

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."

"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." -Contributed by Ralph