--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should…" description: "\"Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.\" — R..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/ronald-reagan-119_age_thomas-jefferson-once-said-we-should-nev_1392608.jpg" --- # Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should never judge a… ![“Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/ronald-reagan-119_age_thomas-jefferson-once-said-we-should-nev_1392608.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/ronald-reagan-119_age_thomas-jefferson-once-said-we-should-nev_1392608.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf0/ronald-reagan-119_age_thomas-jefferson-once-said-we-should-nev_1392608.jpg) > “Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.” [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Judging leaders by their achievements rather than age focuses on tangible impact, reducing anxiety about leadership. **In simple terms:** Judge leaders by deeds, not age. Key Takeaway Assess performance, not age. Themes leadership evaluation age anxiety politics Mood thoughtful encouraging Type political philosophical When to use this quote - voting decisions - career assessments - public discourse - leadership selection Key Concepts political theory psychology decision making Questions to Reflect On - How does focusing on work change your view of leaders? - What other criteria should matter most? A Different Perspective Age can correlate with experience and wisdom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Age Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-works-896417/) [Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jefferson/) [Jefferson Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jefferson-said-896415/) [President Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-age-896416/) [Thomas jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thomas-jefferson/) [Works Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/works-told-896418/) ## Related quotes > [Thomas Jefferson once said. He said , "We should never judge a President by his age, only by his works." And ever since he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/thomas-jefferson-once-said-he-said-we-should-never-judge-a-president/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I believe that Thomas Jefferson said: 'If it neither breaks my leg nor picks my pocket, what difference is it to me?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/i-believe-that-thomas-jefferson-said-if-it-neither-breaks-my-leg-nor/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [I knew Thomas Jefferson. He was a friend of mine. And believe me, you are no Thomas Jefferson. (at 1992 Republican party convention, referring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-knew-thomas-jefferson-he-was-a-friend-of-mine-and-believe-me-you/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Thomas Jefferson made a comment about the Presidency and age. He said that one should not worry about one's exact chronological age in reference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/thomas-jefferson-made-a-comment-about-the-presidency-and-age-he-said/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I was reading a lot of Thomas Jefferson at the time, and Jefferson said that every 20 years, if one party has stayed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hopper/i-was-reading-a-lot-of-thomas-jefferson-at-the-time-and-jefferson/) [Dennis Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hopper/) > [“As Thomas Jefferson said, “Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-ulen-curtis/as-thomas-jefferson-said-our-greatest-happiness-does-not-depend-on/) [Laurel Ulen Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-ulen-curtis/) > [I think Thomas Jefferson would have said the more speech, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/i-think-thomas-jefferson-would-have-said-the-more-speech-the-better/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Thomas Jefferson said, The tree of liberty must be fertilized from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. Yeah and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/thomas-jefferson-said-the-tree-of-liberty-must-be-fertilized-from/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [“The political nature of man made it highly unlikely that a society designed to meet regularly would remain peaceable. "The way to make friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/the-political-nature-of-man-made-it-highly-unlikely-that-a-society/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [Thomas Jefferson once said, "Women shouldn't wrinkle their pretty little foreheads with politics." 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But the people can be brought to the bidding of their leader. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/thomas-jefferson-once-said-of-course-the-people-don-t-want-war-but/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Intelligent life on a planet comes of age when it first works out the reason for its own existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/intelligent-life-on-a-planet-comes-of-age-when-it-first-works-out-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [From time to time, life as a leader can look hopeless. To help you, consider a man who lived through this: Failed in business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/from-time-to-time-life-as-a-leader-can-look-hopeless-to-help-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ronald Reagan > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/yes-across-europe-this-wall-will-fall-for-it-cannot-withstand-faith/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America - our country is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-time-has-come-to-turn-to-god-and-reassert-our-trust-in-him-for/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! The only experience you gain in politics is how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/professional-politicians-like-to-talk-about-the-value-of-experience/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Where there's liberty, art succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/where-there-s-liberty-art-succeeds/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [A moment I've been dreading. George brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-moment-i-ve-been-dreading-george-brought-his-ne-re-do-well-son/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [On Father's Day, we pay tribute to all in our society who have taken on the responsibilitie s and joys of fatherhood. Whether our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/on-father-s-day-we-pay-tribute-to-all-in-our-society-who-have-taken/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It's not that liberals aren't smart, it's just that so much of what they know isn't so](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-not-that-liberals-aren-t-smart-it-s-just-that-so-much-of-what/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/love-your-country-not-for-her-power-or-wealth-but-for-her/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Explore all 1,244 Ronald Reagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## 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. 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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": "Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' 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