--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From the circumstances of my position, I…" description: "\"From the circumstances of my position, I was often thrown into the society of horse-racers, card-players, fox-hunters, scientific and professional men,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/thomas-jefferson-43_bars_from-the-circumstances-of-my-position-i_2235172.jpg" --- # From the circumstances of my position, I was often thrown… ![“From the circumstances of my position, I was often thrown into the society of horse-racers, card-players, fox-hunters, scientific and professional men, and of dignified men; and many a time have I asked myself, in the enthusiastic moment of the death of a fox, the victory of a favorite horse, the…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/thomas-jefferson-43_bars_from-the-circumstances-of-my-position-i_2235172.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/thomas-jefferson-43_bars_from-the-circumstances-of-my-position-i_2235172.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/thomas-jefferson-43_bars_from-the-circumstances-of-my-position-i_2235172.jpg) > “From the circumstances of my position, I was often thrown into the society of horse-racers, card-players, fox-hunters, scientific and professional men, and of dignified men; and many a time have I asked myself, in the enthusiastic moment of the death of a fox, the victory of a favorite horse, the issue of a question eloquently argued at the bar, or in the great council of the nation, well, which of these kinds of reputation should I prefer? That of a horse-jockey, a fox-hunter, an orator, or the honest advocate of my country's rights?” [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. Choosing a reputation involves weighing personal interests against civic duty. **In simple terms:** Decide which role best serves your values. Key Takeaway Align actions with highest principles. Themes identity choice ethics Mood thoughtful contemplative Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - career decisions - public service - social circles - leadership roles Key Concepts Reputation civic responsibility personal vs public Questions to Reflect On - Which reputation aligns with your core values? - How do you reconcile personal ambition with public good? A Different Perspective Balancing personal desire with societal expectations is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Enthusiastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiastic/) [Foxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foxes/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [Hunters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunters/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Jockeys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jockeys/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Orators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orators/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) ## Related quotes > [“The girl is half my size. I think I can handle her without calling council.” “You disappoint me, Hunter. Where is the patience you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/the-girl-is-half-my-size-i-think-i-can-handle-her-without-calling-2/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [The only healing I’ve ever known is getting back in that race car — for all us racers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-bowyer/the-only-healing-i-ve-ever-known-is-getting-back-in-that-race-car-for/) [Clint Bowyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-bowyer/) > [A lot of racers have some of their best days when they're sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-ligety/a-lot-of-racers-have-some-of-their-best-days-when-they-re-sick/) [Ted Ligety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-ligety/) > [“The race was on; the souls of the racers were in it; over them bent the myriads.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lew-wallace/the-race-was-on-the-souls-of-the-racers-were-in-it-over-them-bent-the/) [Lew Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lew-wallace/) > [“...bright-shirted racers of the Tour de France zoomed by like fantastically bicycling macaws.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-neill/bright-shirted-racers-of-the-tour-de-france-zoomed-by-like/) [Joseph O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-neill/) > [There are two types of racers- cheaters and losers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-yunick/there-are-two-types-of-racers-cheaters-and-losers/) Smokey Yunick > [Cowgirl is a spirit, a special brand of courage. The cowgirl faces life head on, lives by her own lights, and makes no excuses.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-evans/cowgirl-is-a-spirit-a-special-brand-of-courage-the-cowgirl-faces-life/) [Dale Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-evans/) > [But I'm a racer, that's what I've always been. I just want someone to put me in a car and leave me there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawna-robinson/but-i-m-a-racer-that-s-what-i-ve-always-been-i-just-want-someone-to/) Shawna Robinson > [I want to do a movie on sports - like a movie on a racer or a marathon runner - as I feel I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bipasha-basu/i-want-to-do-a-movie-on-sports-like-a-movie-on-a-racer-or-a-marathon/) [Bipasha Basu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bipasha-basu/) > [For 50 years bike racers have been taking stimulants. Obviously we can do without them in a race, but then we will pedal 15…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-anquetil/for-50-years-bike-racers-have-been-taking-stimulants-obviously-we-can/) [Jacques Anquetil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-anquetil/) > [Emulation, even in brutes, is sensitively "nervous." See the tremor of the thoroughbred racer before he starts. The dray-horse does not tremble, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/emulation-even-in-brutes-is-sensitively-nervous-see-the-tremor-of-the/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [“But what kind of race is it, when the racers never let go of each other's hands, and the winner pulls the loser laughing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/but-what-kind-of-race-is-it-when-the-racers-never-let-go-of-each/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [I don't go to racers' funerals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-martin/i-don-t-go-to-racers-funerals/) [Guy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-martin/) > [I put the number 7 on my t-shirt because this is the number of my championships but also because it was the number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentino-garavani/i-put-the-number-7-on-my-t-shirt-because-this-is-the-number-of-my/) [Valentino Garavani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentino-garavani/) > [This isn't a picture filled with wonder and a sense of fun; it's so jaded and crass that I almost wonder if it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zacharek/this-isn-t-a-picture-filled-with-wonder-and-a-sense-of-fun-it-s-so/) [Stephanie Zacharek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zacharek/) ## 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 Bars quotes > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [The dark ages still reign over all humanity, and the depth and persistence of this domination are only now becoming clear. This Dark Ages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/the-dark-ages-still-reign-over-all-humanity-and-the-depth-and/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. Touching to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/it-wasn-t-really-touching-to-be-young-it-was-touching-not-to-be-young/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [Your thief looks Exactly like the rest, or rather better; 'Tis only at the bar, and in the dungeon, That wise men know your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/your-thief-looks-exactly-like-the-rest-or-rather-better-tis-only-at/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [While traveling, I love granola bars, trail mix nuts, dry cereal and fruit for on-the-go snacks. I also try and start the day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-rampone/while-traveling-i-love-granola-bars-trail-mix-nuts-dry-cereal-and/) [Christie Rampone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-rampone/) > [3 people get stranded on a remote Island A Banker, a Daily Mail reader & an Asylum seeker All they have to eat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-brookmyre/3-people-get-stranded-on-a-remote-island-a-banker-a-daily-mail-reader/) [Christopher Brookmyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-brookmyre/) > [Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house unless they have a well-stocked bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/thou-shalt-not-covet-thy-neighbor-s-house-unless-they-have-a-well/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [Meanwhile after failing the bar twice, I knew some people in New York and moved here in August '71.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-quine/meanwhile-after-failing-the-bar-twice-i-knew-some-people-in-new-york/) [Robert Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-quine/) > [If you look at coffee, tea, food and juice, we think there are inherent opportunities. If you look at health bars or grab-and-go products…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/if-you-look-at-coffee-tea-food-and-juice-we-think-there-are-inherent/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [At about 10 o'clock in the morning the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows and in and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/at-about-10-o-clock-in-the-morning-the-sun-threw-a-bright-dust-laden/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I bet a guy at a bar 50 bucks that I was more dysfunctional than he was. He raped me. So I tipped him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-a-guy-at-a-bar-50-bucks-that-i-was-more-dysfunctional-than-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I closed my own jazz bar so I could be a man who can write novels as I like. 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We wait, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/history-is-the-heavy-traffic-that-prevents-us-from-crossing-the-road/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) Browse all 1,768 Bars quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "From the circumstances of my position, I was often thrown into the society of horse-racers, card-players, fox-hunters, scientific and professional men, and of dignified men; and many a time have I asked myself, in the enthusiastic moment of the death of a fox, the victory of a favorite horse, the issue of a question eloquently argued at the bar, or in the great council of the nation, well, which of these kinds of reputation should I prefer? 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