--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think with the Romans, that the general…" description: "\"I think with the Romans, that the general of today should be a soldier tomorrow if necessary.\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/thomas-jefferson-43_peace_i-think-with-the-romans-that-the-general_2601260.jpg" --- # I think with the Romans, that the general of today should… ![“I think with the Romans, that the general of today should be a soldier tomorrow if necessary.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/thomas-jefferson-43_peace_i-think-with-the-romans-that-the-general_2601260.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/thomas-jefferson-43_peace_i-think-with-the-romans-that-the-general_2601260.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/thomas-jefferson-43_peace_i-think-with-the-romans-that-the-general_2601260.jpg) > “I think with the Romans, that the general of today should be a soldier tomorrow if necessary.” [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. A leader should be ready to serve as a soldier when needed, emphasizing adaptability and humility in governance. **In simple terms:** Leaders must be ready to serve as soldiers. Key Takeaway Cultivate readiness to serve in any role. Themes leadership humility adaptability service Mood inspirational pragmatic Type political philosophical When to use this quote - wartime - civil emergency - political crisis - military service Key Concepts civil‑military relations citizen‑soldier concept public duty Questions to Reflect On - Are you prepared to change roles for the greater good? - What does humility look like in modern leadership? A Different Perspective Idealism may clash with practical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Romans General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romans-general-1946716/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Soldier Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier-tomorrow-1946714/) [Think Romans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-romans-1946717/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Today Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today-soldier-1946715/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) [Tomorrow Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow-necessary-1946718/) ## Related quotes > [I think the Romans must have aggravated one another very much, with their noses. 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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. 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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 Peace quotes > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. 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