Wise Words of Council

Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped.

• At age 5, began studying under his cousins’ tutor.
• At age 9, studied Latin, Greek and French.
• At age 14, studied classical literature and additional languages.
• At age 16, entered the College of William and Mary.
• At age 19, studied Law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.
• At age 23, started his own law practice.
• At age 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.
• At age 31, wrote the widely circulated "Summary View of the Rights of British America" and retired from his law practice.
• At age 32, was a Delegate to the Second Continental Congress.
• At age 33, wrote the Declaration of Independence.
• At age 33, took three years to revise Virginia 's legal code and wrote a Public Education bill and a statute for Religious Freedom.
• At age 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia succeeding Patrick Henry.
• At age 40, served in Congress for two years.
• At age 41, was the American minister to France and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams.
• At age 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington.
• At age 53, served as Vice President and was elected president of the American Philosophical Society.
• At age 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active head of the Republican Party.
• At age 57, was elected the third president of the United States.
• At age 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase doubling the nation's size.
• At age 61, was elected to a second term as President.
• At age 65, retired to Monticello.
• At age 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.
• At age 81, almost single-handedly created the University of Virginia and served as its first president.
• At age 83, died on the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence along with John Adams.

Thomas Jefferson knew what he was talking about because he-himself studied the previous failed attempts at government. He understood actual history, the nature of God, his laws and the nature of man. That happens to be wa-a-ay more than what most understand today. Jefferson really knew his stuff.

A voice from the past to lead us in the future: 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."

Famous Quotes

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

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson

It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world. Thomas Jefferson

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. Thomas Jefferson

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

No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. Thomas Jefferson

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. Thomas Jefferson

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

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

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. Thomas Jefferson, 1802