Alliances Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1797
Advocates for peaceful trade and friendships, avoiding binding alliances.
In simple terms: Peaceful commerce, no entangling alliances.
Key Takeaway
Pursue trade, avoid binding treaties.
Themes
diplomacy
trade
peace
Mood
strategic
pragmatic
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- foreign policy
- trade negotiations
- global partnerships
Key Concepts
realpolitik
international relations
Questions to Reflect On
- How to balance peace and security?
- When are alliances necessary?
A Different Perspective
May limit strategic security options.
![“It astonishes me to find... [that so many] of our countrymen... should be contented to live under a system which leaves to their governors the power of taking from them the trial by jury in civil cases, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of commerce, the habeas corpus laws, and of…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d2e/thomas-jefferson-43_army_it-astonishes-me-to-find-that-so-many-of_1421509.jpg)
![“[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)
![“[U]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle the apparatus of oppression.” quote by Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d7b/shulamith-firestone-12980_accomplished_u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together_5485.jpg)
