We did not raise armies for glory or for conquest.
Interpretation
The quote means that the efforts of raising armies should not be for personal or national glory, but for a greater purpose.
Thomas Jefferson emphasizes that the true purpose of raising armies is not to seek glory or engage in conquest, but rather to uphold values, protect freedom, and serve a higher cause. This highlights a moral perspective on leadership and the responsibilities that come with power, suggesting that military might should be a means to an ethical end rather than an end in itself.
In practice
In a speech about military involvement, one might reference this quote to emphasize ethical leadership.
The firmness with which the (American) people have withstood the... abuses of the press, the discernment they have manifested between truth and falsehood, show that they may safely be trusted to hear everything true and false and to form a correct judgment between them.
I, place economy among the first & most important republican virtues, & public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared
βWe must make our choice between economy and liberty or confusion and servitude...If we run into such debts, we must be taxed in our meat and drink, in our necessities and comforts, in our labor and in our amusements...if we can prevent the government from wasting the labor of the people, under the pretense of caring for them, they will be happy.
Very many and very meritorious were the worthy patriots who assisted in bringing back our government to its republican tack. To preserve it in that, will require unremitting vigilance.
A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society.
Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.
To win the people, always cook them some savoury that pleases them.
The real leader redefines or defines the mission in a very powerful way so that people understand it; it permeates the organization.
There are only three measurements that tell you nearly everything you need to know about your organization's overall performance: employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and cash flow...It goes without saying that no company, small or large, can win over the long run without energized employees who believe in the mission and understand how to achieve it.
One of the key qualities a leader must possess is the ability to detach from the chaos, mayhem, and emotions in a situation and make good, clear decisions based on what is actually happening.
There is no international problem that can be addressed or solved without the engagement and leadership of the United States and everybody in the world knows that, its just fact of life. So sometimes I think we could conduct ourselves with a little more humility.
Doing the easy thing makes you popular. Doing the hard thing makes you a leader.
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