--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I considered the British as our natural…" description: "\"I considered the British as our natural enemies, and as the only nation on earth who wished us ill from the bottom of their souls. And I am satisfied t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/thomas-jefferson-43_bonfire_i-considered-the-british-as-our-natural_1084913.jpg" --- # I considered the British as our natural enemies, and as… ![“I considered the British as our natural enemies, and as the only nation on earth who wished us ill from the bottom of their souls. And I am satisfied that were our continent to be swallowed up by the ocean, Great Britain would be in a bonfire from one end to the other.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/thomas-jefferson-43_bonfire_i-considered-the-british-as-our-natural_1084913.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/thomas-jefferson-43_bonfire_i-considered-the-british-as-our-natural_1084913.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/thomas-jefferson-43_bonfire_i-considered-the-british-as-our-natural_1084913.jpg) > “I considered the British as our natural enemies, and as the only nation on earth who wished us ill from the bottom of their souls. And I am satisfied that were our continent to be swallowed up by the ocean, Great Britain would be in a bonfire from one end to the other.” [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. Jefferson expresses deep animosity toward Britain, wishing its destruction if America were threatened. **In simple terms:** He hates Britain and hopes it burns if America is in danger. Key Takeaway Recognize how hatred can cloud judgment. Themes politics conflict nationalism Mood anger defiant Type political historical When to use this quote - diplomatic negotiations - military strategy - public speeches Key Concepts imperialism enemy perception war rhetoric Questions to Reflect On - What drives such intense hostility? - Can hatred ever be constructive? A Different Perspective Such extreme sentiment can undermine diplomatic solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Great britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-britain/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Natural enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-enemies/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) ## Related quotes > [If you grew up Protestant in Ireland, of course, at least in the twentieth century, there was always a contingent that would never really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-laird/if-you-grew-up-protestant-in-ireland-of-course-at-least-in-the/) [Nick Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-laird/) > [Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error... 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But by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-not-in-the-british-empire-a-man-who-more-cordially-loves-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The colleges of Edinburgh and Geneva as seminaries of science, are considered as the two eyes of Europe. While Great Britain and America give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-colleges-of-edinburgh-and-geneva-as-seminaries-of-science-are/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [During the late war I had an infallible rule for deciding what Great Britain would do on every occasion. It was, to consider what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/during-the-late-war-i-had-an-infallible-rule-for-deciding-what-great/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating it's most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/he-has-waged-cruel-war-against-human-nature-itself-violating-it-s/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ The sun of her \[Great Britain\] glory is fast descending to the horizon. 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They are to be avoided.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-leitich-smith/besides-humans-aren-t-prey-they-are-our-natural-enemies-they-are-to/) [Cynthia Leitich Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-leitich-smith/) > [Trade is the natural enemy of all violent passions. Trade loves moderation, delights in compromise, and is most careful to avoid anger. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/trade-is-the-natural-enemy-of-all-violent-passions-trade-loves/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Fathers and sons are natural enemies. Look at any species. Shark, sees his father in the water, he's not thinking, Hey dad, wassup ?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/fathers-and-sons-are-natural-enemies-look-at-any-species-shark-sees/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [The artist and the multitude are natural enemies. They always will be, both ways. 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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 Bonfire quotes > [“It wasn’t that she necessarily wanted to “socialize” at the bonfire, but she wanted to broadcast to the general population that her antisocial behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-stroube/it-wasn-t-that-she-necessarily-wanted-to-socialize-at-the-bonfire-but/) [J.D. 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