But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.
Interpretation
Friendship is invaluable during both good and bad times in life.
In this quote, Thomas Jefferson emphasizes the importance of friendship as a vital component of life, suggesting that true friends are invaluable not only during difficult times ('the shade') but also during joyous times ('the sunshine'). He acknowledges that the majority of life consists of positive experiences, highlighting that having supportive friends enhances those moments even more.
In practice
During a speech at a friend's wedding to express the value of having supportive friends.
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.
Surround yourself with those who wonβt compete but will revel in your success and see your ascent as a reflection of their own possibilities.
There can be no friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity.
Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare, To digg the dust encloased heare! Blest be the man that spares thes stones, And curst be he that moves my bones.
Honest differences of opinion should never be permitted to destroy a friendship.
Wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.
Friendship is born at that moment when one man says to another: "What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . ."
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