Relationships Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“The animosities of soverigns are temporary, and may be allayed; but those which seize the whole body of people, and of a people too, dictate their own measures, produce calamities of long duration”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Letter to John Adams, 1795
Powerful leaders can cause lasting harm when they dominate entire societies, unlike temporary conflicts between rulers.
In simple terms: Leaders' dominance can cause long-term suffering.
Key Takeaway
Beware of concentrated power.
Themes
politics
leadership
societal impact
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- government policy
- social movements
- public health crises
- education reform
Key Concepts
authoritarianism
collective trauma
historical cycles
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we limit the reach of dominant powers?
- What safeguards protect societies from long-term harm?
A Different Perspective
Even temporary disputes can have lasting effects if they spread.
![“As we have seen after every other [Donald] Trump controversy, this one only increased their enthusiasm for him. His supporters thought the idea of a temporary halt in Muslims coming to the U.S. was a common sense proposal in a time of great fear about terrorism.” quote by Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/93a/steve-inskeep-10882_common_as-we-have-seen-after-every-other-donald_19232.jpg)
![“Donald Trump has opened [ politically correct enforcement] up wide. He's made a very bold statement and he's backed it back just a little bit when he said it is temporary.” quote by Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/572/ted-cruz-487_bits_donald-trump-has-opened-politically-corr_6712.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)
