1. Antwoord dat Madison schreef op Jefferson toen hij
wereldvreemde politieke ideeën ventileerde:
Our hemisphere must still be more enlightend before many of
the sublime truths which are seen through the medium of philosophy, become
visible to the naked eye of the ordinary politician
2. Jefferson over de publieke opinie en de pers:
The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very
first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to
decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or
newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to
prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those
papers & be capable of reading them.
I am convinced that those
societies (as the Indians) which live without government
enjoy in their general mass an infinitely greater degree of
happiness than those who live under European governments.
Among the former, public opinion is in the place
of law, and restrains morals as powerfully as laws ever did
any where. Among the latter, under pretence of governing
they have divided their nations into two classes, wolves and
sheep. I do not exaggerate. This is a true picture of Europe.
Cherish therefore the spirit of our people, and keep
alive their attention. Do not be too severe upon their errors,
but reclaim them by enlightening them. If once they
become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and
Congress, and Assemblies, judges and governors shall all
become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature,
in spite of individual exceptions; and experience declares
that man is the only animal which devours his own
kind, for I can apply no milder term to the governments
of Europe, and to the general prey of the rich on the poor.
Plumer over Jefferson: "I did think he had great talents, wisdom and a portion of those virtues that render a man amiable and useful; but craft and cunning are as distinct from wisdom as meanness is from economies, or his views from true greatness."
Jefferson over de pers: "During this course of administration, and in order to disturb it, the artillery of the press has been leveled against us, charged with whatsoever its licentiousness could devise or dare. These abuses of an institution so important to freedom and science are deeply to be regretted, inasmuch as they tend to lessen its usefulness and to sap its safety. They might, indeed, have been corrected by the wholesome punishments reserved to and provided by the laws of the several States against falsehood and defamation, but public duties more urgent press on the time of public servants, and the offenders have therefore been left to find their punishment in the public indignation."
Plumer over Jefferson: "I did think he had great talents, wisdom and a portion of those virtues that render a man amiable and useful; but craft and cunning are as distinct from wisdom as meanness is from economies, or his views from true greatness."
Jefferson over de pers: "During this course of administration, and in order to disturb it, the artillery of the press has been leveled against us, charged with whatsoever its licentiousness could devise or dare. These abuses of an institution so important to freedom and science are deeply to be regretted, inasmuch as they tend to lessen its usefulness and to sap its safety. They might, indeed, have been corrected by the wholesome punishments reserved to and provided by the laws of the several States against falsehood and defamation, but public duties more urgent press on the time of public servants, and the offenders have therefore been left to find their punishment in the public indignation."
Franklin on Adams: always An honest man, often a great
one but sometimes absolutely mad
I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.John Adams (1735 - 1826
May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof." -- John Adams, Second President of the United States, Letter to Abigail
"Collecting all authority into one center, that of the nation." Nonsense. The whole people were incapable of deciding much of anything, even on the small scale of a village. If all power were to be vested in a single legislature. "What was there to restrain it from making tyrannical laws, in order to execute them in a tyrannical manner?"
To Adams nothing had changed about human nature since the time of the ancients. Inequities within society were inevitable, no matter the political order. Human beings were capable of great good, but also great evil. None could be elevated above others without risk of danger.
Even in America where there was " a moral and political equality of rights and duties" there were nonetheless inequalities of wealth. There was inevitably a "natural aristocracy among mankind". These were the people who had the capacity to acquire wealth and make use of political power, and for all they contributed to society, they could thus become the most dangerous element in society, unless they and their interests were consigned to one branch of legislature, the Senate and given no executive power."
Reason is the guide of life, the senses, the imagination and affections are the springs of activity. Reason holds the helm, but passions are the gales.
I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.John Adams (1735 - 1826
May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof." -- John Adams, Second President of the United States, Letter to Abigail
"Collecting all authority into one center, that of the nation." Nonsense. The whole people were incapable of deciding much of anything, even on the small scale of a village. If all power were to be vested in a single legislature. "What was there to restrain it from making tyrannical laws, in order to execute them in a tyrannical manner?"
To Adams nothing had changed about human nature since the time of the ancients. Inequities within society were inevitable, no matter the political order. Human beings were capable of great good, but also great evil. None could be elevated above others without risk of danger.
Even in America where there was " a moral and political equality of rights and duties" there were nonetheless inequalities of wealth. There was inevitably a "natural aristocracy among mankind". These were the people who had the capacity to acquire wealth and make use of political power, and for all they contributed to society, they could thus become the most dangerous element in society, unless they and their interests were consigned to one branch of legislature, the Senate and given no executive power."
Reason is the guide of life, the senses, the imagination and affections are the springs of activity. Reason holds the helm, but passions are the gales.
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