During the late war I had an infallible rule for deciding…
“During the late war I had an infallible rule for deciding what Great Britain would do on every occasion. It was, to consider what they ought to do, and to take the reverse of that as what they would assuredly do, and I can say with truth that I was never deceived.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Jefferson suggests predicting British actions by assuming they will do the opposite of what they ought to, a cynical view of political behavior.
In simple terms: Predict opponents act contrary to moral duty.
Key Takeaway
Expect opposite behavior from rivals.
Themes
politics
strategy
skepticism
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
strategic
political
When to use this quote
- diplomacy
- policy planning
- negotiations
- risk assessment
Key Concepts
cynicism
prediction
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How reliable is reverse reasoning?
- What are its limits?
A Different Perspective
Assumes rationality in reverse.