21 February 2014
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”
Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826)
The third President of the United States, Jefferson also served as the Governor of Virginia, Secretary of State under George Washington, member of the Continental Congress, Minister to France, and Vice President under John Adams. He was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the founder of the University of Virginia. It was Jefferson who acquired the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the country, and it was he who dispatched Lewis and Clark to explore it. Although a slave owner himself, he signed the 1807 law banning further importation of slaves into the United States.The polymathic Jefferson was an architect, inventor, scientist, philosopher and linguist. It seems to me that Jefferson’s quote must refer to honesty with the self as well as to our dealings with others.
Greg Bover
Good Morning Gloucester 
Another great quote from TJ.
“Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands
around reloading” — Thomas Jefferson
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Evidence of Jefferson’s self-reflective nature, his love of intellect and his somewhat sentimental side were certainly found in his scrapbooks (discovered late 90s I think). I assume his thoughts on honesty emerged there as well judging from the types of newspaper clippings he kept. Now I am curious. I enjoy your posts.
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His home, Monticello, near Charlottesville, Va. Is reflective of his intellect and a wonderful place to visit.
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Jefferson & John Adams (longtime friends…rivals…then friends again) died on the same day, July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of their signing of the Declaration of Independence. You just can’t make this stuff up!
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