Able Quote by Thomas Jefferson
![“Students of reading, writing and common arithmetick . . . Graecian [Greek], Roman, English and American history . . . should be rendered . . . worthy to receive, and able to guard the sacred deposit of the rights and liberties of their fellow citizens.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0f1/thomas-jefferson-43_able_students-of-reading-writing-and-common-a_1559038.jpg)
“Students of reading, writing and common arithmetick . . . Graecian [Greek], Roman, English and American history . . . should be rendered . . . worthy to receive, and able to guard the sacred deposit of the rights and liberties of their fellow citizens.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Letter to John Adams, 1787
Citizens must be educated in humanities and sciences to protect liberty and rights.
In simple terms: Education protects liberty.
Key Takeaway
Study history and civics.
Themes
education
citizenship
liberty
Mood
thoughtful
inspired
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- school curricula
- public debates
- community workshops
Key Concepts
civic duty
knowledge preservation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does historical knowledge shape civic responsibility?
- What barriers prevent citizens from accessing education?
A Different Perspective
Education alone may not ensure civic engagement.
![“I acknowledge that such a debt [of service to my fellow-citizens] exists, that a tour of duty in whatever line he can be most useful to his country, is due from every individual. It is not easy perhaps to say of what length exactly that tour should be, but we may safely say of what length it…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/526/thomas-jefferson-43_acknowledge_i-acknowledge-that-such-a-debt-of-servic_2508145.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)
