Common Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“The Earth is given as a common for men to labor and live in.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: On Land Use, Thomas Jefferson, 1785
Land is a shared resource meant for collective labor and habitation, implying communal responsibility and stewardship.
In simple terms: Land belongs to everyone for work and living.
Key Takeaway
Practice sustainable, shared stewardship of land.
Themes
environment
community
stewardship
property rights
Mood
thoughtful
concerned
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- agricultural policy
- community gardens
- environmental activism
Key Concepts
political philosophy
ecology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance individual rights with common good?
- What policies promote shared land use?
A Different Perspective
Private ownership can conflict with communal needs.
![“The creation of new capital always... releases... labor. Its actual effect [though] is not to make jobs scarce, but to free men's labor for other jobs.” quote by Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/de1/frederic-bastiat-2151_creation_the-creation-of-new-capital-always-relea_1614697.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)
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
