--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have often thought that if heaven had…" description: "\"I have often thought that if heaven had given me choice of my position and calling, it should have been on a rich spot of earth, well watered, and near..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/thomas-jefferson-43_calling_i-have-often-thought-that-if-heaven-had_2867350.jpg" --- # I have often thought that if heaven had given me choice of… ![“I have often thought that if heaven had given me choice of my position and calling, it should have been on a rich spot of earth, well watered, and near a good market for the productions of the garden. No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/thomas-jefferson-43_calling_i-have-often-thought-that-if-heaven-had_2867350.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/thomas-jefferson-43_calling_i-have-often-thought-that-if-heaven-had_2867350.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/thomas-jefferson-43_calling_i-have-often-thought-that-if-heaven-had_2867350.jpg) > “I have often thought that if heaven had given me choice of my position and calling, it should have been on a rich spot of earth, well watered, and near a good market for the productions of the garden. No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden. Such a variety of subjects, some one always coming to perfection, the failure of one thing repaired by the success of another, and instead of one harvest a continued one through the year.” [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 life close to nature offers continual renewal, as successes and failures cycle, providing sustained fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Living near productive land brings ongoing joy and balance. Key Takeaway Cultivate a connection with the earth for lasting satisfaction. Themes nature agriculture fulfillment Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - gardening - urban farming - career planning - retirement living Key Concepts sustainability cyclical growth Questions to Reflect On - What small steps can bring nature into your daily life? - How does seasonal change affect your motivation? A Different Perspective Modern lifestyles may limit access to such environments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Delightful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delightful/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garden/) [Harvest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvest/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Occupation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupation/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Through the years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/through-the-years/) [Variety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variety/) ## Related quotes > [“I have often thought that if heaven had given me choice of my position and calling, it should have been on a rich spot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-often-thought-that-if-heaven-had-given-me-choice-of-my/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/no-occupation-is-so-delightful-to-me-as-the-culture-of-the-earth-and/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, no culture comparable to that of the garden...But though an old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/no-occupation-is-so-delightful-to-me-as-the-culture-of-the-earth-no/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“the subduing of the earth, that is, the whole of culture, is given to him, and can be given to him only because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/the-subduing-of-the-earth-that-is-the-whole-of-culture-is-given-to/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [Earth gets its price for what Earth gives us; The beggar is taxed for a corner to die in, The priest hath his fee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/earth-gets-its-price-for-what-earth-gives-us-the-beggar-is-taxed-for/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Too caught up in me to see, I'm holding a fortune that heaven has given to me. I'll try and show you each and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/too-caught-up-in-me-to-see-i-m-holding-a-fortune-that-heaven-has/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [He will be our comfort and solace, our guide and counselor, our salvation and exaltation, for "there is none other name under heaven given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heber-j-grant/he-will-be-our-comfort-and-solace-our-guide-and-counselor-our/) [Heber J. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heber-j-grant/) > [Music is God's gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/music-is-god-s-gift-to-man-the-only-art-of-heaven-given-to-earth-the/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [Heaven has given human beings three things to balance the odds of life: hope, sleep, and laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/heaven-has-given-human-beings-three-things-to-balance-the-odds-of/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > ['T is heaven alone that is given away; 'T is only God may be had for the asking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/t-is-heaven-alone-that-is-given-away-t-is-only-god-may-be-had-for-the/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [“Birth is a heaven-given right for every baby.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/birth-is-a-heaven-given-right-for-every-baby/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [Happy the man to whom heaven has given a morsel of bread without laying him under the obligation of thanking any other for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/happy-the-man-to-whom-heaven-has-given-a-morsel-of-bread-without/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Heaven has given to every human being the power of controlling his passions, and if he neglects or loses it, the fault is his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/heaven-has-given-to-every-human-being-the-power-of-controlling-his/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Heaven is not here, it's There. If we were given all we wanted here, our hearts would settle for this world rather than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/heaven-is-not-here-it-s-there-if-we-were-given-all-we-wanted-here-our/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [Being myself a warm zealot for the attainment & enjoiment by all mankind of as much liberty as each may exercise without injury to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/being-myself-a-warm-zealot-for-the-attainment-enjoiment-by-all/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## 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 Calling quotes > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church, the hope of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/god-is-not-calling-us-to-go-to-church-he-is-calling-us-to-be-his/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [NBC is making a movie about Martha Stewart that will cover the recent stock scandal. They are thinking of calling it 'The Road To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/nbc-is-making-a-movie-about-martha-stewart-that-will-cover-the-recent/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [When I was a little boy, I was reading Dante and I was saying to myself 'Bravo, Dante, Bravo.' It's so beautiful, the music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-benigni/when-i-was-a-little-boy-i-was-reading-dante-and-i-was-saying-to/) [Roberto Benigni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-benigni/) > [ I don't see \[ Trainspotting \] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatross-i-see-it-more-as-a-calling/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [\*Calling someone I don't want to answer\* \*Please go to voice mail. Please go to voice mail. Please go to voice mail..\* Hello? -\_\_\_-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/calling-someone-i-don-t-want-to-answer-please-go-to-voice-mail-please/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Sometimes you hear a voice through the door calling you... This turning toward what you deeply love saves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/sometimes-you-hear-a-voice-through-the-door-calling-you-this-turning/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Please be slow to judge ‘brothers’ who have a different calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/please-be-slow-to-judge-brothers-who-have-a-different-calling/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) Browse all 3,811 Calling quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have often thought that if heaven had given me choice of my position and calling, it should have been on a rich spot of earth, well watered, and near a good market for the productions of the garden. No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden. 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