--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To exclude from positions of trust and…" description: "\"To exclude from positions of trust and command all those below the age of 44 would have kept Jefferson from writing the Declaration of Independence, Wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/john-f-kennedy-246_age_to-exclude-from-positions-of-trust-and-c_345649.jpg" --- # To exclude from positions of trust and command all those… ![“To exclude from positions of trust and command all those below the age of 44 would have kept Jefferson from writing the Declaration of Independence, Washington from commanding the Continental Army, Madison from fathering the Constitution, Hamilton from serving as secretary of the treasury, Clay…” quote by John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/john-f-kennedy-246_age_to-exclude-from-positions-of-trust-and-c_345649.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/john-f-kennedy-246_age_to-exclude-from-positions-of-trust-and-c_345649.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/john-f-kennedy-246_age_to-exclude-from-positions-of-trust-and-c_345649.jpg) > “To exclude from positions of trust and command all those below the age of 44 would have kept Jefferson from writing the Declaration of Independence, Washington from commanding the Continental Army, Madison from fathering the Constitution, Hamilton from serving as secretary of the treasury, Clay from being elected speaker of the House and Christopher Columbus from discovering America.” [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Age limits exclude many key historical figures, showing that talent and impact are not bound by age. **In simple terms:** Age is not a barrier to achievement. Key Takeaway Value contributions regardless of age. Themes leadership history age bias talent inclusion Mood inspirational reflective Type historical political When to use this quote - political leadership - team building - career advancement - policy making Key Concepts generational diversity meritocracy historical perspective Questions to Reflect On - How can organizations avoid age bias? - What criteria should replace age in selection? A Different Perspective Age alone does not determine capability; experience matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Declaration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaration/) [Declaration of independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declaration-of-independence/) [Fathering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fathering/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamilton/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [To exclude from positions of trust and command all those below the age of 44 would have kept Jefferson from writing the Declaration of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fitzgerald-kennedy/to-exclude-from-positions-of-trust-and-command-all-those-below-the-2/) [John Fitzgerald Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fitzgerald-kennedy/) > [“That there would be a political advantage in having the declaration written by a Virginian was clear, for the same reason there had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/that-there-would-be-a-political-advantage-in-having-the-declaration/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“His military triumphs had been neither frequent nor epic in scale. He had lost more battles than he had won, had botched several through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/his-military-triumphs-had-been-neither-frequent-nor-epic-in-scale-he/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [“the all-time master of exits wanted to make his final departure from the public stage the occasion for explaining his own version of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-ellis/the-all-time-master-of-exits-wanted-to-make-his-final-departure-from/) [Joseph J. Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-ellis/) > [With regard to military discipline, I may safely say that no such thing existed in the Continental Army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-wilhelm-von-steuben/with-regard-to-military-discipline-i-may-safely-say-that-no-such/) Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben > [“The Continental army got more generals than they got private soldiers, these days. An officer lives through more 'n two battles, they make him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/the-continental-army-got-more-generals-than-they-got-private-soldiers/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [It turns out one of my ancestors fought in the Continental Army, so I was inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/it-turns-out-one-of-my-ancestors-fought-in-the-continental-army-so-i/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [Fathering is not something perfect men do, but something that perfects the man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pittman/fathering-is-not-something-perfect-men-do-but-something-that-perfects/) [Frank Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pittman/) > [It was my father who taught me to value myself...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-french/it-was-my-father-who-taught-me-to-value-myself/) [Dawn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-french/) > [Fathering kids in old age runs in the family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-doohan/fathering-kids-in-old-age-runs-in-the-family/) [James Doohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-doohan/) > [Experience of the phenomenal capacity of our birthing body can give us an enduring sense of our own power as women. Birth is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-buckley/experience-of-the-phenomenal-capacity-of-our-birthing-body-can-give/) [Sarah J. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-buckley/) > [“My wife was out and I was home alone with Emma when my mother called. She said, "Oh, so you're babysitting?" As politely as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-j-cohen/my-wife-was-out-and-i-was-home-alone-with-emma-when-my-mother-called/) Lawrence J. Cohen > [In a world often marked by selfishness, a large family is a school of solidarity and sharing; and this attitude is to the benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/in-a-world-often-marked-by-selfishness-a-large-family-is-a-school-of/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Whatever their age, most men have never received true fathering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/whatever-their-age-most-men-have-never-received-true-fathering/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [In colonial America, the father was the primary parent. . . . Over the past two hundred years, each generation of fathers has hadless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pittman/in-colonial-america-the-father-was-the-primary-parent-over-the-past/) [Frank Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pittman/) ## More by John F. Kennedy > [“We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-shall-pay-any-price-bear-any-burden-meet-any-hardship-support-any/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We stand today on the edge of a new frontier - the frontier of the 1960's - a frontier of unknown opportunities and perils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-stand-today-on-the-edge-of-a-new-frontier-the-frontier-of-the-1960/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We will neglect our cities to our peril, for in neglecting them we neglect the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-will-neglect-our-cities-to-our-peril-for-in-neglecting-them-we/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We must recognize that every nation determines its policies in terms of its own interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-must-recognize-that-every-nation-determines-its-policies-in-terms/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Someone always needs rescuing, yet there's only one person who ever seems to understand you. It's a lot like being Lassie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/someone-always-needs-rescuing-yet-there-s-only-one-person-who-ever/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Student loans have been helpful to many. But they offer neither incentive nor assistance to those students who, by reason of family or other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/student-loans-have-been-helpful-to-many-but-they-offer-neither/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Great crises produce great men, and great deeds of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/great-crises-produce-great-men-and-great-deeds-of-courage/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [There comes a point where you see no evidence that the carrot and diplomacy are working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/there-comes-a-point-where-you-see-no-evidence-that-the-carrot-and/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Suspicion on one side breeds suspicion on the other, and new weapons beget counter-weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/suspicion-on-one-side-breeds-suspicion-on-the-other-and-new-weapons/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We have some of the most influential Members of Congress here today, and I do hope that we can get this appropriation for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-have-some-of-the-most-influential-members-of-congress-here-today/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Disarmament without checks is but a shadow - and a community without law is but a shell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/disarmament-without-checks-is-but-a-shadow-and-a-community-without/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [This is one country. It has become one country because all of us and all the people who came here had an equal chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/this-is-one-country-it-has-become-one-country-because-all-of-us-and/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [“The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a magnificent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-courage-of-life-is-often-a-less-dramatic-spectacle-than-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/washington-is-a-city-of-southern-efficiency-and-northern-charm/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Peace does not rest in the charters and covenants alone. It lies in the hearts and minds of all people. So let us not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/peace-does-not-rest-in-the-charters-and-covenants-alone-it-lies-in/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) [Explore all 824 John F. Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To exclude from positions of trust and command all those below the age of 44 would have kept Jefferson from writing the Declaration of Independence, Washington from commanding the Continental Army, Madison from fathering the Constitution, Hamilton from serving as secretary of the treasury, Clay from being elected speaker of the House and Christopher Columbus from discovering America.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John F. 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