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Our duty to ourselves, to posterity, and to mankind, call…

“Our duty to ourselves, to posterity, and to mankind, call on us by every motive which is sacred or honorable, to watch over the safety of our beloved country during the troubles which agitate and convulse the residue of the world, and to sacrifice to that all personal and local considerations.” quote by Thomas Jefferson
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“Our duty to ourselves, to posterity, and to mankind, call on us by every motive which is sacred or honorable, to watch over the safety of our beloved country during the troubles which agitate and convulse the residue of the world, and to sacrifice to that all personal and local considerations.”

Thomas Jefferson

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He calls for personal sacrifice for national safety, linking duty to future generations and moral honor.

In simple terms: We must sacrifice personal interests for our country's safety.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize collective security over self‑interest.

Themes

duty patriotism ethics

Mood

serious reflective

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

  • policy making
  • military service
  • civic education
  • community leadership

Key Concepts

social contract public good

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does honorable duty mean today?
  • How balance personal liberty with national security?
A Different Perspective

May ignore individual rights and dissent.

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