AN AMAZING STORY
Sorry for the long paragraph coming up but everything is connected. Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped. Note he lived 83 years which was unheard of at the time, I wonder if his lifelong learning had anything to do with it? I'm proud to say he was a "Knowledge Seeker!"
At 5, Jefferson began studying under his cousin's tutor. At 9, studied Latin, Greek and French. At 14, studied classical literature and could speak five languages (French, Greek, Italian, Latin and Spanish). At 16, entered the College of William and Mary and could write in Greek with one hand while writing the same in Latin with the other. At 19, began studying law. At 23, started his law practice. At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. At 31, wrote the widely circulated "Summary View of the Rights of British America. At 32, retired from law and became a Delegate to the Second Continental Congress. At 33, mostly wrote the Declaration of Independence. At 33, took three years to revise Virginia's legal code and wrote a Public Education Bill and a Statute for Religious Freedom. At 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia succeeding Patrick Henry. At 40, served in Congress for two years. At 41, was the American Minister to France and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams. At 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington. At 53, served as Vice President and was elected president of the American Philosophical Society. At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active head of Republican Party. At 57, was elected the third president of the United States. At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase doubling the nation's size. At 61, was elected to a second term as President. At 65, retired to Monticello. At 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine. At 81, almost single-handedly created the University of Virginia and served as its first president. At 83, died on the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence along with John Adams who also died that day.
Thomas Jefferson knew the positive and much negative affects of government because he studied the previous failed attempts that occurred around the world. He understood actual history, the nature of God, God’s law, and the nature of man.
John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the White House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement: "This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."
A voice from the past to lead us into the future:
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors 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."
"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." Wow, does this hit home with me.
I provide you with information about amazing people all the time; I have to put Thomas Jefferson close if not at the top. By the way when I read this, I felt very inept!
Sorry for the long paragraph coming up but everything is connected. Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped. Note he lived 83 years which was unheard of at the time, I wonder if his lifelong learning had anything to do with it? I'm proud to say he was a "Knowledge Seeker!"
At 5, Jefferson began studying under his cousin's tutor. At 9, studied Latin, Greek and French. At 14, studied classical literature and could speak five languages (French, Greek, Italian, Latin and Spanish). At 16, entered the College of William and Mary and could write in Greek with one hand while writing the same in Latin with the other. At 19, began studying law. At 23, started his law practice. At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. At 31, wrote the widely circulated "Summary View of the Rights of British America. At 32, retired from law and became a Delegate to the Second Continental Congress. At 33, mostly wrote the Declaration of Independence. At 33, took three years to revise Virginia's legal code and wrote a Public Education Bill and a Statute for Religious Freedom. At 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia succeeding Patrick Henry. At 40, served in Congress for two years. At 41, was the American Minister to France and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams. At 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington. At 53, served as Vice President and was elected president of the American Philosophical Society. At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active head of Republican Party. At 57, was elected the third president of the United States. At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase doubling the nation's size. At 61, was elected to a second term as President. At 65, retired to Monticello. At 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine. At 81, almost single-handedly created the University of Virginia and served as its first president. At 83, died on the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence along with John Adams who also died that day.
Thomas Jefferson knew the positive and much negative affects of government because he studied the previous failed attempts that occurred around the world. He understood actual history, the nature of God, God’s law, and the nature of man.
John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the White House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement: "This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."
A voice from the past to lead us into the future:
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors 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."
"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." Wow, does this hit home with me.
I provide you with information about amazing people all the time; I have to put Thomas Jefferson close if not at the top. By the way when I read this, I felt very inept!
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