Able Quote by Thomas Jefferson
![“[Emigrants] will bring with them the principles of the governments they leave, imbibed in their early youth; or, if able to throw off, it will be in exchange for an unbounded licentiousness, passing, as is usual, from one extreme to another. It would be a miracle were they to stop precisely at the…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/451/thomas-jefferson-43_able_emigrants-will-bring-with-them-the-princ_1395724.jpg)
“[Emigrants] will bring with them the principles of the governments they leave, imbibed in their early youth; or, if able to throw off, it will be in exchange for an unbounded licentiousness, passing, as is usual, from one extreme to another. It would be a miracle were they to stop precisely at the point of temperate liberty.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: 1795 correspondence, Thomas Jefferson
Immigrants bring their home governments’ values, often swinging between extremes, rarely achieving moderate liberty.
In simple terms: Immigrants may adopt extreme views.
Key Takeaway
Promote balanced civic integration.
Themes
immigration
political culture
extremism
Mood
analytical
concerned
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- community building
- education
- integration programs
Key Concepts
sociology
political theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies foster moderation?
- What role does education play?
A Different Perspective
Not all immigrants follow this pattern.
![“[States and the Federal government are] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch of the same government.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/401/thomas-jefferson-43_branches_states-and-the-federal-government-are-co_2619.jpg)
![“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00c/thomas-jefferson-43_change_single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-t_5515.jpg)
![“Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear their leading you out of [any difficult situation] in the easiest manner possible...” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ebe/thomas-jefferson-43_difficult_though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one_9828.jpg)
