It should be our endeavor to cultivate the peace and friendship of every nation . . . . Our interest will be to throw open the doors of commerce, and to knock off all its shackles, giving perfect freedom to all persons for the vent to whatever they may choose to bring into our ports, and asking the same in theirs.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of cultivating peace and friendship with all nations through open commerce.
Thomas Jefferson advocates for the cultivation of peace and friendship among nations, asserting that such efforts should include the freedom of trade and the removal of restrictions. By promoting open commerce, he believes that nations can thrive together, benefitting from mutual respect and collaboration, thus fostering harmonious relationships that contribute to global prosperity.
In practice
This quote can be included in a speech about international relations at a diplomatic conference.
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
We 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 tell a woman not to talk too much was like telling Jesse James not to carry a gun, or a hen not to cackle.
If you wish to be brothers, drop your weapons.
In order to raise money from somebody, you have to understand who is this person, not to deceive them but to understand them. What would be their motives for contributing money? Why do these people contribute money to some places, but not to others? That's attunement - treating everybody well, but not treating everybody the same.
To speak frankly, I am not in favour of long engagements. They give people the opportunity of finding out each other's character before marriage, which I think is never advisable.
Personal relations are the important thing for ever and ever, and not this outer life of telegrams and anger.
If you're in trouble, or hurt or need - go to the poor people. They're the only ones that'll help - the only ones.
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