--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men possessing minds of the first order…" description: "\"Men possessing minds of the first order and who have had opportunities of being known and of acquiring the general confidence do not abound in any coun..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c3/thomas-jefferson-43_confidence_men-possessing-minds-of-the-first-order_2665440.jpg" --- # Men possessing minds of the first order and who have had… ![“Men possessing minds of the first order and who have had opportunities of being known and of acquiring the general confidence do not abound in any country beyond the wants of the country.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c3/thomas-jefferson-43_confidence_men-possessing-minds-of-the-first-order_2665440.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c3/thomas-jefferson-43_confidence_men-possessing-minds-of-the-first-order_2665440.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c3/thomas-jefferson-43_confidence_men-possessing-minds-of-the-first-order_2665440.jpg) > “Men possessing minds of the first order and who have had opportunities of being known and of acquiring the general confidence do not abound in any country beyond the wants of the country.” [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. Exceptional talent and opportunity are scarce, limited by a nation's aspirations and resources. **In simple terms:** Talent is rare and tied to national ambition. Key Takeaway Invest in education and opportunity. Themes education talent national ambition Mood thoughtful inspirational Type political philosophical When to use this quote - public policy - career development - talent scouting Key Concepts political theory economics Questions to Reflect On - How can societies broaden opportunities? - What policies nurture talent? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on talent ignores structural barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [First Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-order/) [Inexperience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inexperience/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [There is nothing wrong with men possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/there-is-nothing-wrong-with-men-possessing-riches-the-wrong-comes/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [A sense of achievement improves general confidence and self-esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/a-sense-of-achievement-improves-general-confidence-and-self-esteem/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [Do not always scrupulously confine yourself to certain rules, or particular forms of devotion, but act with a general confidence in GOD, with love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/do-not-always-scrupulously-confine-yourself-to-certain-rules-or/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [I don't say every country has to leave the euro... But we have to leave the possibility if a country wants to leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/i-don-t-say-every-country-has-to-leave-the-euro-but-we-have-to-leave/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [Every country wants to protect its athletes because it's ultimately Germany vs. Spain, America vs. China; sports are an extension of the government because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fogel/every-country-wants-to-protect-its-athletes-because-it-s-ultimately/) [Bryan Fogel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fogel/) > [When a country wants television more than they want clean water, they've lost their grip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/when-a-country-wants-television-more-than-they-want-clean-water-they/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [If history is really relevant in today's world, the proposition doesn't command much respect. Perhaps the past is a different country, but if so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-janeway/if-history-is-really-relevant-in-today-s-world-the-proposition-doesn/) [Elizabeth Janeway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-janeway/) > [Any country that wants to lower its mobile phone rates, all they need to do is bring in an aggressive player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-niel/any-country-that-wants-to-lower-its-mobile-phone-rates-all-they-need/) [Xavier Niel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-niel/) > [There's a reason that you hear something like 90 percent of our country wants universal background checks, but we can't get it passed legislatively.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-hegar/there-s-a-reason-that-you-hear-something-like-90-percent-of-our/) [MJ Hegar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-hegar/) > [If your country wants you to play, you really want to go and play as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelechi-iheanacho/if-your-country-wants-you-to-play-you-really-want-to-go-and-play-as/) [Kelechi Iheanacho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelechi-iheanacho/) > [This country always wants the underdog to win, that's in our nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/this-country-always-wants-the-underdog-to-win-that-s-in-our-nature/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [Everybody in this country who wants to should be able to get as much education as they want. Education is the best resource we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-hinchey/everybody-in-this-country-who-wants-to-should-be-able-to-get-as-much/) [Maurice Hinchey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-hinchey/) > [There is a gay and secular fascism in this country that wants to impose its will on the rest of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/there-is-a-gay-and-secular-fascism-in-this-country-that-wants-to/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [The nation that buys commands, the nation that sells serves; it is necessary to balance trade in order to ensure freedom; the country that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-marti/the-nation-that-buys-commands-the-nation-that-sells-serves-it-is/) [Jose Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-marti/) > [The farmers may be the backbone of the country, but who wants to be a backbone?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-farmers-may-be-the-backbone-of-the-country-but-who-wants-to-be-a/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## 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 Confidence quotes > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) Senoraroy > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) [Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Men possessing minds of the first order and who have had opportunities of being known and of acquiring the general confidence do not abound in any country beyond the wants of the country.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/men-possessing-minds-of-the-first-order-and-who-have-had/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confidence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/men-possessing-minds-of-the-first-order-and-who-have-had/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c3/thomas-jefferson-43_confidence_men-possessing-minds-of-the-first-order_2665440.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c3/thomas-jefferson-43_confidence_men-possessing-minds-of-the-first-order_2665440.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c3/thomas-jefferson-43_confidence_men-possessing-minds-of-the-first-order_2665440.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Men possessing minds of the first order and who have had opportunities of being known and of acquiring the…” — 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 possessing minds of the first...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/men-possessing-minds-of-the-first-order-and-who-have-had/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/men-possessing-minds-of-the-first-order-and-who-have-had/#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 } } ] } ```