---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The mass of our citizens may be divided…"
description: "\"The mass of our citizens may be divided into two classes -- the laboring and the learned. The laboring will need the first grade of education to qualif..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/thomas-jefferson-43_citizens_the-mass-of-our-citizens-may-be-divided_1873216.jpg"
---

#  The mass of our citizens may be divided into two classes…

![“The mass of our citizens may be divided into two classes -- the laboring and the learned. The laboring will need the first grade of education to qualify them for their pursuits and duties; the learned will need it as a foundation for further acquirements.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/thomas-jefferson-43_citizens_the-mass-of-our-citizens-may-be-divided_1873216.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/thomas-jefferson-43_citizens_the-mass-of-our-citizens-may-be-divided_1873216.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/thomas-jefferson-43_citizens_the-mass-of-our-citizens-may-be-divided_1873216.jpg)

> “The mass of our citizens may be divided into two classes -- the laboring and the learned. The laboring will need the first grade of education to qualify them for their pursuits and duties; the learned will need it as a foundation for further acquirements.”

[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.

Society needs two education levels: basic training for workers and foundational learning for scholars to pursue higher knowledge.

**In simple terms:** Basic and advanced education serve different roles.

Key Takeaway

Support both practical and scholarly learning.

Themes

education social structure knowledge

Mood

optimistic serious

Type

political educational

When to use this quote

- workforce development
- academic research
- policy making
- community programs

Key Concepts

class distinction learning pathways

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we bridge the gap between basic and advanced education?
- What policies promote lifelong learning for all?

A Different Perspective

Rigid class division can limit social mobility.

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[Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/)

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