--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Washington and Jefferson were both rich…" description: "\"Washington and Jefferson were both rich Virginia planters, but they were never friends.\" — Stephen Ambrose" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/stephen-ambrose-10501_planters_washington-and-jefferson-were-both-rich_1069844.jpg" --- # Washington and Jefferson were both rich Virginia planters… ![“Washington and Jefferson were both rich Virginia planters, but they were never friends.” quote by Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/stephen-ambrose-10501_planters_washington-and-jefferson-were-both-rich_1069844.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/stephen-ambrose-10501_planters_washington-and-jefferson-were-both-rich_1069844.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/stephen-ambrose-10501_planters_washington-and-jefferson-were-both-rich_1069844.jpg) > “Washington and Jefferson were both rich Virginia planters, but they were never friends.” [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealth and shared background do not guarantee personal friendship; political and personal differences can dominate. **In simple terms:** Rich people aren’t always friends. Key Takeaway Seek common values beyond status. Themes politics friendship class Mood reflective neutral Type historical observational When to use this quote - political negotiations - business partnerships Key Concepts social dynamics personal rivalry Questions to Reflect On - What factors truly sustain friendships? - How do power dynamics affect alliances? A Different Perspective Assuming similarity leads to misjudgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Planters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planters/) [Virginia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virginia/) ## Related quotes > [Washington, not Jefferson, freed his slaves upon his death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/washington-not-jefferson-freed-his-slaves-upon-his-death/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [Famous Quotes on: Honesty, Wisdom, Thomas Jefferson Rich honesty dwells like a miser, sir, in a poor house; as your pearl in a foul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/famous-quotes-on-honesty-wisdom-thomas-jefferson-rich-honesty-dwells/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Since we were renamed, and now it feels like 80 percent of the African-American population has the name Washington or Jefferson or some president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peele/since-we-were-renamed-and-now-it-feels-like-80-percent-of-the-african/) [Jordan Peele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peele/) > [Jefferson owned slaves. He did not believe that all were created equal. He was a racist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/jefferson-owned-slaves-he-did-not-believe-that-all-were-created-equal/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [The young bloods of the South; sons of planters, lawyers about towns, good billiard players and sportsmen, men who never did any work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/the-young-bloods-of-the-south-sons-of-planters-lawyers-about-towns/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [We're not church planters. We are community planters and, as we work in our communities, we join local churches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/we-re-not-church-planters-we-are-community-planters-and-as-we-work-in/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [There the great Planter plants Of fruitful worlds the grain, And with a million spells enchants The souls that walk in pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-the-great-planter-plants-of-fruitful-worlds-the-grain-and-with/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Few and signally blessed are those whom Jupiter has destined to be cabbage-planters. For they've always one foot on the ground andthe other not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/few-and-signally-blessed-are-those-whom-jupiter-has-destined-to-be/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [I coach church planters to look at the ethnic diversity of schools and neighborhoods they are near. This will be an indicator how ethnically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derwin-l-gray/i-coach-church-planters-to-look-at-the-ethnic-diversity-of-schools/) [Derwin L. Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derwin-l-gray/) > [“My avant garde planters complete, they now yearned to be occupied.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-puchalski/my-avant-garde-planters-complete-they-now-yearned-to-be-occupied/) Matt Puchalski > [Don't worry about a sugar planter. Give him a horse and he'll ride to his own funeral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-siodmak/don-t-worry-about-a-sugar-planter-give-him-a-horse-and-he-ll-ride-to/) [Curt Siodmak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-siodmak/) > [Every gazette brings accounts of the untutored freaks of the wind,--shipwrecks and hurricanes which the mariner and planter acceptas special or general providences; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/every-gazette-brings-accounts-of-the-untutored-freaks-of-the-wind/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Tree planting is always a utopian enterprise, it seems to me, a wager on a future the planter doesn't necessarily expect to witness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/tree-planting-is-always-a-utopian-enterprise-it-seems-to-me-a-wager/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Sir, I do firmly believe that domestic slavery, regulated as ours is, produces the highest toned, the purest, best organization of society that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-henry-hammond/sir-i-do-firmly-believe-that-domestic-slavery-regulated-as-ours-is/) [James Henry Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-henry-hammond/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) ## More by Stephen Ambrose > [Trial by jury. Live wherever you can make a living. How could a government based on such principles fail?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/trial-by-jury-live-wherever-you-can-make-a-living-how-could-a/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [The great wars of the 20th Century made it into the worst Century ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/the-great-wars-of-the-20th-century-made-it-into-the-worst-century-ever/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [It is through history that we learn who we are and how we got that way, why and how we changed, why the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/it-is-through-history-that-we-learn-who-we-are-and-how-we-got-that/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [There are many more want-to-be writers out there than good editors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/there-are-many-more-want-to-be-writers-out-there-than-good-editors/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [The number one secret of being a successful writer is this: marry an English major.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/the-number-one-secret-of-being-a-successful-writer-is-this-marry-an/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [It would not be possible to praises nurses too highly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/it-would-not-be-possible-to-praises-nurses-too-highly/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries you have these great nation states hurling their young men at one another. The victory was really going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/in-the-nineteenth-and-twentieth-centuries-you-have-these-great-nation/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [You don't hate history, you hate the way it was taught to you in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/you-don-t-hate-history-you-hate-the-way-it-was-taught-to-you-in-high/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [The American Constitution is the greatest governing document, and at some 7,000 words, just about the shortest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/the-american-constitution-is-the-greatest-governing-document-and-at/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [We are part of a country that outshines those that have gone before us and most of those in existence today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/we-are-part-of-a-country-that-outshines-those-that-have-gone-before/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [Washington, not Jefferson, freed his slaves upon his death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/washington-not-jefferson-freed-his-slaves-upon-his-death/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [American corporations hate to give away money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/american-corporations-hate-to-give-away-money/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [Washington's character was rock solid. He came to stand for the new nation and its republican virtues, which was why he became our first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/washington-s-character-was-rock-solid-he-came-to-stand-for-the-new/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [In America, Jefferson noted with approval, women knew their place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/in-america-jefferson-noted-with-approval-women-knew-their-place/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [Dams have harmed our wildlife and made rivers less useful for recreation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/dams-have-harmed-our-wildlife-and-made-rivers-less-useful-for/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) [Explore all 65 Stephen Ambrose quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) ## More Jefferson quotes > [ “Thomas Jefferson High School \[..\] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-school-was-named-after-a-slave/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Thomas Jefferson was a real poet. He was slick with that 'pursuit' of happiness because the 'pursuit' puts it back on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/thomas-jefferson-was-a-real-poet-he-was-slick-with-that-pursuit-of/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [probably the greatest concentration of talent and genius in this house except for perhaps those times when Thomas Jefferson ate alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/probably-the-greatest-concentration-of-talent-and-genius-in-this/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [In seeking an empire of liberty, Jefferson wished not only to expand the country's territorial holdings, but also to extend American institutions around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/in-seeking-an-empire-of-liberty-jefferson-wished-not-only-to-expand/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [“...The Presidential election has given me less anxiety than I myself could have imagined. The next administration will be a troublesome one, to whomsoever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-presidential-election-has-given-me-less-anxiety-than-i-myself/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“The Jefferson is such a dignified hotel / There is no such thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/the-jefferson-is-such-a-dignified-hotel-there-is-no-such-thing/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [The English are no nearer than they were a hundred years ago to knowing what Jefferson really meant when he said that God had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-english-are-no-nearer-than-they-were-a-hundred-years-ago-to/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [So now it turns out that Thomas Jefferson was having sex with Sally Hemings while serving in the 101st Airborne during the Vietnam War.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/so-now-it-turns-out-that-thomas-jefferson-was-having-sex-with-sally/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [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/) > [“A morsel of genuine history is a thing so rare as to be always valuable. Thomas Jefferson”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-grove/a-morsel-of-genuine-history-is-a-thing-so-rare-as-to-be-always/) Tim Grove > [ Every answer he \[President John Adams\] gives to his addressers unmasks more and more his principles and views. His language to the young men… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/every-answer-he-president-john-adams-gives-to-his-addressers-unmasks/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Mr. Jefferson has reason to reflect upon himself. How he will get rid of his remorse in his retirement, I know not. He must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/mr-jefferson-has-reason-to-reflect-upon-himself-how-he-will-get-rid/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [I love the example of Jefferson because he's willing to murder his government and then he becomes a president and then his face is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-wilson/i-love-the-example-of-jefferson-because-he-s-willing-to-murder-his/) [Cody Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-wilson/) > [What I'm thinking about more and more these days is simply the importance of transparency, and Jefferson's saying that he'd rather have a free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/what-i-m-thinking-about-more-and-more-these-days-is-simply-the/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [ \[John\] Adams was the best and most colorful stylist among the Founders. Although \[Tomas\] Jefferson is widely regarded as the smoothest writer, Adams is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/john-adams-was-the-best-and-most-colorful-stylist-among-the-founders/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) Browse all 174 Jefferson quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Washington and Jefferson were both rich Virginia planters, but they were never friends.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Ambrose" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/washington-and-jefferson-were-both-rich-virginia-planters-but-they/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Jefferson" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/washington-and-jefferson-were-both-rich-virginia-planters-but-they/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/stephen-ambrose-10501_planters_washington-and-jefferson-were-both-rich_1069844.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/stephen-ambrose-10501_planters_washington-and-jefferson-were-both-rich_1069844.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/stephen-ambrose-10501_planters_washington-and-jefferson-were-both-rich_1069844.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Washington and Jefferson were both rich Virginia planters, but they were never friends.” — Stephen Ambrose", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Stephen Ambrose", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Washington and Jefferson were both rich...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/washington-and-jefferson-were-both-rich-virginia-planters-but-they/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/washington-and-jefferson-were-both-rich-virginia-planters-but-they/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```