--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men of high learning and abilities are…" description: "\"Men of high learning and abilities are few in every country; and by taking in those who are not so, the able part of the body have their hands tied by ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/thomas-jefferson-43_ability_men-of-high-learning-and-abilities-are-f_570235.jpg" --- # Men of high learning and abilities are few in every… ![“Men of high learning and abilities are few in every country; and by taking in those who are not so, the able part of the body have their hands tied by the unable.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/thomas-jefferson-43_ability_men-of-high-learning-and-abilities-are-f_570235.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/thomas-jefferson-43_ability_men-of-high-learning-and-abilities-are-f_570235.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/thomas-jefferson-43_ability_men-of-high-learning-and-abilities-are-f_570235.jpg) > “Men of high learning and abilities are few in every country; and by taking in those who are not so, the able part of the body have their hands tied by the unable.” [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. Excessive inclusion of less capable individuals hampers the effective portion of society, limiting overall productivity. **In simple terms:** Too many unqualified members can hinder the capable. Key Takeaway Balance inclusion with competence for societal efficiency. Themes education meritocracy social structure efficiency Mood analytical critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - organizational design - team building Key Concepts human capital resource allocation social stratification Questions to Reflect On - How can societies value both competence and inclusion? - What systems ensure fair assessment of abilities? A Different Perspective Exclusion can perpetuate inequality and overlook potential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Hands tied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands-tied/) [Inexperience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inexperience/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Parts of the body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parts-of-the-body/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [Again, the great number of cultivated men keep each other up to a high standard. The habit of meeting well-read and knowing men teaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/again-the-great-number-of-cultivated-men-keep-each-other-up-to-a-high/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Optimism is the content of small men in high places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/optimism-is-the-content-of-small-men-in-high-places/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Men in high levels of government seldom surf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/men-in-high-levels-of-government-seldom-surf/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [Most elite big men are high maintenance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/most-elite-big-men-are-high-maintenance/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [“CBS News reported in 2004 that Saudi Arabia recently beheaded 52 men and one woman for various crimes, including murder, homosexuality, armed robbery, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/cbs-news-reported-in-2004-that-saudi-arabia-recently-beheaded-52-men/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [I don't like it, but my hands are tied. 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A generation of crusading lawyers put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-reiss/man-is-born-free-but-is-everywhere-in-chains-wrote-jean-jacques/) [Tom Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-reiss/) > [“Don Vito Corleone was a man to whom everybody came for help, and never were they disappointed. He made no empty promises, nor the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/don-vito-corleone-was-a-man-to-whom-everybody-came-for-help-and-never/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [“You know who you should ask about this? My pal Ray, who works with me. He could tell you all about this." Lily's dad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/you-know-who-you-should-ask-about-this-my-pal-ray-who-works-with-me/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“he drove a truck because he thought everybody should drive a truck- that driving around in car was like living with your hands tied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/he-drove-a-truck-because-he-thought-everybody-should-drive-a-truck/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [I love it all. I don't want to go through my career with one hand tied behind my back. I love making kids happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-love-it-all-i-don-t-want-to-go-through-my-career-with-one-hand-tied/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [ I will insist the Hebrews have \[contributed\] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-will-insist-the-hebrews-have-contributed-more-to-civilize-men-than/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Your hands are tied in action, but your hands are not tied in imagination and everything springs forth from the imagination. Everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/your-hands-are-tied-in-action-but-your-hands-are-not-tied-in/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) ## 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 Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Men of high learning and abilities are few in every country; and by taking in those who are not so, the able part of the body have their hands tied by the unable.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/men-of-high-learning-and-abilities-are-few-in-every-country-and-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/men-of-high-learning-and-abilities-are-few-in-every-country-and-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/thomas-jefferson-43_ability_men-of-high-learning-and-abilities-are-f_570235.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/thomas-jefferson-43_ability_men-of-high-learning-and-abilities-are-f_570235.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/thomas-jefferson-43_ability_men-of-high-learning-and-abilities-are-f_570235.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Men of high learning and abilities are few in every country; and by taking in those who are not so, the able…” — Thomas Jefferson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas Jefferson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Men of high learning and abilities...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/men-of-high-learning-and-abilities-are-few-in-every-country-and-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/men-of-high-learning-and-abilities-are-few-in-every-country-and-by/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```