Boisterous Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other. Our children see this, and learn to imitate it.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: to James Madison, 1802
Power dynamics between oppressor and oppressed breed cruelty and imitation, shaping future generations.
In simple terms: Abuse of power teaches harmful behavior.
Key Takeaway
Challenge oppressive systems.
Themes
power
oppression
social learning
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education reform
- parenting
- workplace hierarchy
Key Concepts
authoritarianism
cycle of violence
Questions to Reflect On
- What can be done to break the cycle of domination?
- How does observation influence moral development?
A Different Perspective
Changing entrenched attitudes is difficult.
![“[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)
