---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great cause which divides our…"
description: "\"The great cause which divides our countries is not to be decided by individual animosities. The harmony of private societies cannot weaken national eff..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/thomas-jefferson-43_animosity_the-great-cause-which-divides-our-countr_3129506.jpg"
---

#  The great cause which divides our countries is not to be…

![“The great cause which divides our countries is not to be decided by individual animosities. The harmony of private societies cannot weaken national efforts.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/thomas-jefferson-43_animosity_the-great-cause-which-divides-our-countr_3129506.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/thomas-jefferson-43_animosity_the-great-cause-which-divides-our-countr_3129506.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/thomas-jefferson-43_animosity_the-great-cause-which-divides-our-countr_3129506.jpg)

> “The great cause which divides our countries is not to be decided by individual animosities. The harmony of private societies cannot weaken national efforts.”

[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.

National unity outweighs personal grudges; collective effort must not be undermined by private conflicts.

**In simple terms:** Put country before personal disputes.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize national goals over personal animosity.

Themes

unity politics collective action conflict resolution

Mood

reflective serious

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- government policy
- community building
- conflict mediation
- team projects

Key Concepts

social contract common good political philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies safeguard against private interests harming public goals?
- What mechanisms ensure private societies support national effort?

A Different Perspective

Individual biases can still erode cooperation if unchecked.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Animosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animosity/) [Cause Divides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-divides-5529728/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [Divides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divides/) [Divides Countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divides-countries-5529729/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [National Efforts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-efforts-741938/) [Our country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-country/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Private Societies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-societies-5529730/) [Weaken National](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weaken-national-5529731/)

## Related quotes

> [The reality is that the AIDS epidemic continues to outstrip the global and national efforts to contain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-piot/the-reality-is-that-the-aids-epidemic-continues-to-outstrip-the/)

[Peter Piot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-piot/)

> [“You're mistaking bitter animosity for heartfelt affection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/you-re-mistaking-bitter-animosity-for-heartfelt-affection/)

[Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/)

> [“The Europeans hate us because we’ve retired to live inside our advertisements, like hermits going into caves to contemplate. We sleep in symbolic bedrooms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/the-europeans-hate-us-because-we-ve-retired-to-live-inside-our/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

> [I've been in and out of Wall Street since 1949, and I've never seen the type of animosity between government and Wall Street. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/i-ve-been-in-and-out-of-wall-street-since-1949-and-i-ve-never-seen/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [The second effort was spreading the word among the people, first, in a bid to raise their morale, and second to instil in them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-nasrallah/the-second-effort-was-spreading-the-word-among-the-people-first-in-a/)

[Hassan Nasrallah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-nasrallah/)

> [It is extremely interesting to me that black males, and other black folk, are viewed as self-pitying, by either other blacks who have failed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/it-is-extremely-interesting-to-me-that-black-males-and-other-black/)

[Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/)

> [But if you should take the bond of goodwill out of the universe no house or city could stand, nor would even the tillage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/but-if-you-should-take-the-bond-of-goodwill-out-of-the-universe-no/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [“You could start a fire with the heat between you two." "You're mistaking bitter animosity for heartfelt affection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/you-could-start-a-fire-with-the-heat-between-you-two-you-re-mistaking/)

[Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/)

> [“No matter how powerful hate seems, it cannot usurp the throne of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/no-matter-how-powerful-hate-seems-it-cannot-usurp-the-throne-of-love/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [ \[Football is\] a game that requires the constant conjuring of animosity. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/football-is-a-game-that-requires-the-constant-conjuring-of-animosity/)

[Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/)

> [Where there has been racial hatred, it must be ended. Where there has been tribal animosity, it will be finished. Let us not dwell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jomo-kenyatta/where-there-has-been-racial-hatred-it-must-be-ended-where-there-has/)

[Jomo Kenyatta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jomo-kenyatta/)

> [You look out into the audience and you see so much joy on people's faces. You make eye contact with people who are almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mcvie/you-look-out-into-the-audience-and-you-see-so-much-joy-on-people-s/)

[Christine McVie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-mcvie/)

> [Life Appears To Be Too Short To Be Spent In Nursing Animosity Or Registering Wrong...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/life-appears-to-be-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/)

[Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/)

> [We live in a country where there is a lot of animosity. If your politics is radical it antagonises. People might think I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-jones/we-live-in-a-country-where-there-is-a-lot-of-animosity-if-your/)

[Owen Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-jones/)

> [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/)

[Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/)

## 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 Animosity quotes

> [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/)

[Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/)

> [We live in a country where there is a lot of animosity. If your politics is radical it antagonises. People might think I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-jones/we-live-in-a-country-where-there-is-a-lot-of-animosity-if-your/)

[Owen Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-jones/)

> [Life Appears To Be Too Short To Be Spent In Nursing Animosity Or Registering Wrong...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/life-appears-to-be-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/)

[Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/)

> [You look out into the audience and you see so much joy on people's faces. You make eye contact with people who are almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mcvie/you-look-out-into-the-audience-and-you-see-so-much-joy-on-people-s/)

[Christine McVie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-mcvie/)

> [Where there has been racial hatred, it must be ended. Where there has been tribal animosity, it will be finished. Let us not dwell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jomo-kenyatta/where-there-has-been-racial-hatred-it-must-be-ended-where-there-has/)

[Jomo Kenyatta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jomo-kenyatta/)

> [ \[Football is\] a game that requires the constant conjuring of animosity. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/football-is-a-game-that-requires-the-constant-conjuring-of-animosity/)

[Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/)

> [“No matter how powerful hate seems, it cannot usurp the throne of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/no-matter-how-powerful-hate-seems-it-cannot-usurp-the-throne-of-love/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“You could start a fire with the heat between you two." "You're mistaking bitter animosity for heartfelt affection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/you-could-start-a-fire-with-the-heat-between-you-two-you-re-mistaking/)

[Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/)

> [But if you should take the bond of goodwill out of the universe no house or city could stand, nor would even the tillage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/but-if-you-should-take-the-bond-of-goodwill-out-of-the-universe-no/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [It is extremely interesting to me that black males, and other black folk, are viewed as self-pitying, by either other blacks who have failed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/it-is-extremely-interesting-to-me-that-black-males-and-other-black/)

[Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/)

> [The second effort was spreading the word among the people, first, in a bid to raise their morale, and second to instil in them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-nasrallah/the-second-effort-was-spreading-the-word-among-the-people-first-in-a/)

[Hassan Nasrallah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-nasrallah/)

> [I've been in and out of Wall Street since 1949, and I've never seen the type of animosity between government and Wall Street. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/i-ve-been-in-and-out-of-wall-street-since-1949-and-i-ve-never-seen/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [“The Europeans hate us because we’ve retired to live inside our advertisements, like hermits going into caves to contemplate. We sleep in symbolic bedrooms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/the-europeans-hate-us-because-we-ve-retired-to-live-inside-our/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

> [“You're mistaking bitter animosity for heartfelt affection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/you-re-mistaking-bitter-animosity-for-heartfelt-affection/)

[Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/)

> [What I learned about acting, from my experiences directing, is why so many producers and directors don't like actors. You go through all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/what-i-learned-about-acting-from-my-experiences-directing-is-why-so/)

[Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/)

[Browse all 187 Animosity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animosity/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The great cause which divides our countries is not to be decided by individual animosities. The harmony of private societies cannot weaken national efforts.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Jefferson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-great-cause-which-divides-our-countries-is-not-to-be-decided-by/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Animosity"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-great-cause-which-divides-our-countries-is-not-to-be-decided-by/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/thomas-jefferson-43_animosity_the-great-cause-which-divides-our-countr_3129506.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/thomas-jefferson-43_animosity_the-great-cause-which-divides-our-countr_3129506.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee7/thomas-jefferson-43_animosity_the-great-cause-which-divides-our-countr_3129506.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The great cause which divides our countries is not to be decided by individual animosities. The harmony of…” — 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": "The great cause which divides our...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-great-cause-which-divides-our-countries-is-not-to-be-decided-by/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-great-cause-which-divides-our-countries-is-not-to-be-decided-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
