Berlin Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“Still we did not expect to be without rubs and difficulties; and we have had them. First the detention of Western posts: then the coalition of Pilnitz, outlawing our commerce with France, and the British enforcement of the outlawry. In your day French depredations; in mine English, and the Berlin and Milan decrees: now the English orders of council, and the piracies they authorize. When these shall be over, it will the impressment of our seamen, or something else; and so we have gone on, and so we shall go on, puzzled and prospering beyond example in the history of man.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Correspondence with James Madison, 1793
The writer acknowledges ongoing political and economic challenges, yet remains optimistic about perseverance and progress despite external pressures.
In simple terms: He notes difficulties but stays hopeful about overcoming them.
Key Takeaway
Persist through adversity; view challenges as growth.
Themes
politics
resilience
optimism
conflict
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- foreign policy
- trade restrictions
- military impressment
- national strategy
Key Concepts
realpolitik
historical context
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you adapt to persistent obstacles?
- What strategies sustain long‑term resilience?
A Different Perspective
Challenges may be cyclical and unpredictable.
![“Who is a good man? He who keeps the decrees of the fathers, and both human and divine laws. [Lat., Vir bonus est quis? Qui consulta patrum, qui leges juraque servat.]” quote by Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/578/horace-172_bonus_who-is-a-good-man-he-who-keeps-the-decre_887036.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)
