Thomas Jefferson

The most comprehensive book of quotations by the most quotable Founding FatherMore than any other Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson made his reputation on the brilliance of his writing. John Adams chose the 33-year-old Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence largely because of his "masterly Pen." The genius of the Declaration and Jefferson's later writings amply confirmed Adams's judgment. Few writers have said so much on so many subjects—and said it so well—as Jefferson. The Quotable Jefferson—the most comprehensive and authoritative book of Jefferson quotations ever published—demonstrates that as does no other book. Drawing primarily on The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, published by Princeton University Press, John Kaminski has carefully collected and cleverly arranged Jefferson's pronouncements on almost 500 subjects, ranging from the profound and public—the Constitution—to the personal and peculiar—cold water bathing. The Quotable Jefferson is the first book to put Jefferson's words in context with a substantial introduction, a chronology of Jefferson's life, the source of each quotation, an appendix identifying Jefferson's correspondents, and a comprehensive index. The main section of Jefferson quotations, which are arranged alphabetically by topic, is followed by three other fascinating sections of quotations: Jefferson on his contemporaries, his contemporaries on him, and Jefferson on himself. This book will delight the casual reader and browser, but it is also a serious and carefully edited reference work. Whatever the subject, if Jefferson said something memorable about it, you are likely to find it here.

A definitive new volume of the retirement papers of Thomas JeffersonThe 533 documents in this volume include revealing material on Jefferson’s health. He is limited to a liquid diet for weeks due to an abscess under his jaw. Although daily horseback rides take him “3. or 4. to 8. or 10. miles without fatigue,” he cannot walk “further than my garden.” He has lost only one tooth due to age and is glad not to need “teeth of porcelain.” Due to debility, Jefferson’s only serious occupation is the effort to open the University of Virginia. Francis W. Gilmer travels to Great Britain to recruit professors and buy “a library and apparatus.” Jefferson is determined to hire only faculty of “the first grade of science.” The Rotunda is still unfinished but fit for use “until funds may occur to compleat it.” Jefferson predicts that a plan to send freed African Americans to Africa will fail. He observes that “barbarism” is in decline and “will in time I trust disappear from the earth.” To another correspondent he defends “the principles which have guided my public life,” but adds that, when altered circumstances make changes of principle beneficial, “then let such changes take place, and the means yield to the end.”