--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An association of men who will not…" description: "\"An association of men who will not quarrel with one another is a thing which has never yet existed, from the greatest confederacy of nations down to a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/thomas-jefferson-43_association_an-association-of-men-who-will-not-quarr_1269332.jpg" --- # An association of men who will not quarrel with one… ![“An association of men who will not quarrel with one another is a thing which has never yet existed, from the greatest confederacy of nations down to a town meeting or a vestry.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/thomas-jefferson-43_association_an-association-of-men-who-will-not-quarr_1269332.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/thomas-jefferson-43_association_an-association-of-men-who-will-not-quarr_1269332.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8a/thomas-jefferson-43_association_an-association-of-men-who-will-not-quarr_1269332.jpg) > “An association of men who will not quarrel with one another is a thing which has never yet existed, from the greatest confederacy of nations down to a town meeting or a vestry.” [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human cooperation without conflict is impossible; even large groups contain disagreements. **In simple terms:** People always argue, even in groups. Key Takeaway Accept conflict as natural and manage it. Themes conflict cooperation politics Mood reflective analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government meetings - community councils - international alliances Key Concepts social dynamics human nature Questions to Reflect On - How can we harness disagreement constructively? - What mechanisms reduce unnecessary conflict? A Different Perspective Some conflicts are productive, not all are detrimental. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Association](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/association/) [Association Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/association-men-2250590/) [Confederacy Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confederacy-nations-4062939/) [Meeting Vestry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meeting-vestry-4062940/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Quarrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-quarrel-369896/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) ## Related quotes > [With all their faults, trade unions have done more for humanity than any other organization of men that ever existed. 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Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-d-baker/) > [Most men's anger about religion is as if two men should quarrel for a lady that neither of them care for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-savile/most-men-s-anger-about-religion-is-as-if-two-men-should-quarrel-for-a/) [George Savile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-savile/) > [Government is an association of men who do violence to the rest of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/government-is-an-association-of-men-who-do-violence-to-the-rest-of-us/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [When it comes to divide an estate, the politest men quarrel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-it-comes-to-divide-an-estate-the-politest-men-quarrel/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The state is the association of men, and not men themselves; the citizen may perish, and the man remain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/the-state-is-the-association-of-men-and-not-men-themselves-the/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Most men's anger about religion is as if two men should quarrel for a lady they neither of them care for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-men-s-anger-about-religion-is-as-if-two-men-should-quarrel-for-a-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When two men quarrel, who owns the cooler head is the more to blame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/when-two-men-quarrel-who-owns-the-cooler-head-is-the-more-to-blame/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [To take from one because it is thought that his own industry and that of his father's has acquired too much, in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-take-from-one-because-it-is-thought-that-his-own-industry-and-that/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ To draw around the whole nation the strength of the General Government as a barrier against foreign foes... is \[one of the\] functions of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-draw-around-the-whole-nation-the-strength-of-the-general/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The interests of a nation, when well understood, will be found to coincide with their moral duties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-interests-of-a-nation-when-well-understood-will-be-found-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Convinced that the republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/convinced-that-the-republican-is-the-only-form-of-government-which-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [But whatever be their degree of talent it is no measure of their rights. Because Sir Isaac Newton was superior to others in understanding,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/but-whatever-be-their-degree-of-talent-it-is-no-measure-of-their/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [So few men are really worth knowing, that it seems a shameful waste to let an anthropoid prejudice stand in the way of free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/so-few-men-are-really-worth-knowing-that-it-seems-a-shameful-waste-to/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [If you are poor, shun association with him who measures men with the yardstick of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/if-you-are-poor-shun-association-with-him-who-measures-men-with-the/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) ## More by Thomas Jefferson > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/perceiving-the-order-of-nature-to-be-that-individual-happiness-shall/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-but-free-argument-raillery-and-even-ridicule-will-preserve/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-people-are-afraid-of-the-government-that-s-tyranny-but-when/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Explore all 2,098 Thomas Jefferson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More Association quotes > [If you are poor, shun association with him who measures men with the yardstick of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/if-you-are-poor-shun-association-with-him-who-measures-men-with-the/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [So few men are really worth knowing, that it seems a shameful waste to let an anthropoid prejudice stand in the way of free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/so-few-men-are-really-worth-knowing-that-it-seems-a-shameful-waste-to/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [For rich children, it'd be very easy and convenient never to take any steps to build an identity outside of your association with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-johnson/for-rich-children-it-d-be-very-easy-and-convenient-never-to-take-any/) [Jamie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-johnson/) > [I am a member of that small, little group that covers - I'm a member of the White House correspondents association. I go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-am-a-member-of-that-small-little-group-that-covers-i-m-a-member-of/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [While opponents label (Howard) Dean a throwback liberal, The New York Times recently noted that as governor, Dean cut income taxes, reformed welfare and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/while-opponents-label-howard-dean-a-throwback-liberal-the-new-york/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Anarchism is a definite intellectual current in the life of our times, whose adherents advocate the abolition of economic monopolies and of all political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-rocker/anarchism-is-a-definite-intellectual-current-in-the-life-of-our-times/) [Rudolf Rocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-rocker/) > [The feedback that I get from my association with Gomez is heartwarming. It is very difficult for me to take anything but a positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-astin/the-feedback-that-i-get-from-my-association-with-gomez-is/) [John Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-astin/) > [Public and private funds have been thrown around like confetti at a country fair, to close up and destroy clinics, hospitals, and scientific research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-fitzgerald/public-and-private-funds-have-been-thrown-around-like-confetti-at-a/) [Benedict Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-fitzgerald/) > [ \[T\]here are, at bottom, basically two ways to order social affairs, Coercively, through the mechanisms of the state - what we can call political… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-crane/t-here-are-at-bottom-basically-two-ways-to-order-social-affairs/) [Ed Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-crane/) > [Whatever withdraws us from the power of our senses; whatever makes the past, the distant, or the future, predominate over the present, advances us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/whatever-withdraws-us-from-the-power-of-our-senses-whatever-makes-the/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The Stroke Association has produced leaflets that set out clearly the health risks associated with stroke that African-Caribbean people face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linford-christie/the-stroke-association-has-produced-leaflets-that-set-out-clearly-the/) [Linford Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linford-christie/) > [The regular division of the plane into congruent figures evoking an association in the observer with a familiar natural object is one of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-escher/the-regular-division-of-the-plane-into-congruent-figures-evoking-an/) [M. 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