--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We see the wisdom of Solon's remark, that…" description: "\"We see the wisdom of Solon's remark, that no more good must be attempted than the nation can bear.\" — Thomas Jefferson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/632/thomas-jefferson-43_bears_we-see-the-wisdom-of-solon-s-remark-that_1438065.jpg" --- # We see the wisdom of Solon's remark, that no more good… ![“We see the wisdom of Solon's remark, that no more good must be attempted than the nation can bear.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/632/thomas-jefferson-43_bears_we-see-the-wisdom-of-solon-s-remark-that_1438065.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/632/thomas-jefferson-43_bears_we-see-the-wisdom-of-solon-s-remark-that_1438065.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/632/thomas-jefferson-43_bears_we-see-the-wisdom-of-solon-s-remark-that_1438065.jpg) > “We see the wisdom of Solon's remark, that no more good must be attempted than the nation can bear.” [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. Warns against overextending national ambitions beyond capacity. **In simple terms:** Limit national projects to sustainable levels. Key Takeaway Pursue realistic goals. Themes government ambition capacity wisdom Mood cautious analytical Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - policy drafting - budget planning - national strategy - public debate Key Concepts political theory public policy resource management Questions to Reflect On - What determines a nation's capacity? - How to balance ambition with prudence? A Different Perspective Risk of under‑achieving due to caution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [No more good must be attempted than the nation can bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solon/no-more-good-must-be-attempted-than-the-nation-can-bear/) [Solon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solon/) > [Only six need be attempted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/only-six-need-be-attempted/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The Kiss scene was attempted three times. The first was in a peculiar spot of the fort on the ground level. It felt forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-stowe/the-kiss-scene-was-attempted-three-times-the-first-was-in-a-peculiar/) [Madeleine Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-stowe/) > [I'm presently incarcerated. Convicted of a crime I didn't even commit. Hah! "Attempted murder"? Now honestly, what is that? Do they give a Nobel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/i-m-presently-incarcerated-convicted-of-a-crime-i-didn-t-even-commit/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [When President George W. Bush attempted to reform Social Security, that proposal was more unpopular with Americans than the Iraq war. People love their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/when-president-george-w-bush-attempted-to-reform-social-security-that/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“How does anyone think that 'attempted murder' counts the same as actual murder? They shouldn't even call it 'attempted': that's just a way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-bingham/how-does-anyone-think-that-attempted-murder-counts-the-same-as-actual/) [Harry Bingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-bingham/) > [Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nothing-will-ever-be-attempted-if-all-possible-objections-must-first-2/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Anything I've ever attempted, I was always willing to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/anything-i-ve-ever-attempted-i-was-always-willing-to-fail/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [The character and fight against fascism moved centre stage when, in 1936, Franco attempted to overthrow by force the Popular Front Government of Republican Spain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-alexander/the-character-and-fight-against-fascism-moved-centre-stage-when-in/) Bill Alexander > [The Obama administration's attempted short-term fixes, even with unprecedented monetary easing by the Federal Reserve, produced average GDP growth of just 2.2% over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-hubbard/the-obama-administration-s-attempted-short-term-fixes-even-with/) [Glenn Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-hubbard/) > [It isn't the original scandal that gets people in the most trouble - it's the attempted cover-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petri/it-isn-t-the-original-scandal-that-gets-people-in-the-most-trouble-it/) Tom Petri > [With the 'Watchmen' comic, we attempted to tell it in an accessible way. I deliberately made the artwork very clear, deceptively so. You think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gibbons/with-the-watchmen-comic-we-attempted-to-tell-it-in-an-accessible-way/) [Dave Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gibbons/) > [All reformations seem formidable before they are attempted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/all-reformations-seem-formidable-before-they-are-attempted/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [To the millions of Americans whove attempted to use HealthCare.gov to shop and enroll in health-care coverage, I want to apologize to you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-tavenner/to-the-millions-of-americans-whove-attempted-to-use-healthcare-gov-to/) Marilyn Tavenner > [The attempted assassinations against me were not accidental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhmad-kadyrov/the-attempted-assassinations-against-me-were-not-accidental/) [Akhmad Kadyrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhmad-kadyrov/) ## 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 Attempted quotes > [The attempted assassinations against me were not accidental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhmad-kadyrov/the-attempted-assassinations-against-me-were-not-accidental/) [Akhmad Kadyrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhmad-kadyrov/) > [To the millions of Americans whove attempted to use HealthCare.gov to shop and enroll in health-care coverage, I want to apologize to you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-tavenner/to-the-millions-of-americans-whove-attempted-to-use-healthcare-gov-to/) Marilyn Tavenner > [All reformations seem formidable before they are attempted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/all-reformations-seem-formidable-before-they-are-attempted/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [With the 'Watchmen' comic, we attempted to tell it in an accessible way. I deliberately made the artwork very clear, deceptively so. You think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gibbons/with-the-watchmen-comic-we-attempted-to-tell-it-in-an-accessible-way/) [Dave Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gibbons/) > [It isn't the original scandal that gets people in the most trouble - it's the attempted cover-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petri/it-isn-t-the-original-scandal-that-gets-people-in-the-most-trouble-it/) Tom Petri > [The Obama administration's attempted short-term fixes, even with unprecedented monetary easing by the Federal Reserve, produced average GDP growth of just 2.2% over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-hubbard/the-obama-administration-s-attempted-short-term-fixes-even-with/) [Glenn Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-hubbard/) > [The character and fight against fascism moved centre stage when, in 1936, Franco attempted to overthrow by force the Popular Front Government of Republican Spain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-alexander/the-character-and-fight-against-fascism-moved-centre-stage-when-in/) Bill Alexander > [Anything I've ever attempted, I was always willing to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/anything-i-ve-ever-attempted-i-was-always-willing-to-fail/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nothing-will-ever-be-attempted-if-all-possible-objections-must-first-2/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“How does anyone think that 'attempted murder' counts the same as actual murder? They shouldn't even call it 'attempted': that's just a way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-bingham/how-does-anyone-think-that-attempted-murder-counts-the-same-as-actual/) [Harry Bingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-bingham/) > [When President George W. Bush attempted to reform Social Security, that proposal was more unpopular with Americans than the Iraq war. People love their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/when-president-george-w-bush-attempted-to-reform-social-security-that/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [I'm presently incarcerated. Convicted of a crime I didn't even commit. Hah! "Attempted murder"? Now honestly, what is that? Do they give a Nobel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/i-m-presently-incarcerated-convicted-of-a-crime-i-didn-t-even-commit/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [The Kiss scene was attempted three times. The first was in a peculiar spot of the fort on the ground level. It felt forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-stowe/the-kiss-scene-was-attempted-three-times-the-first-was-in-a-peculiar/) [Madeleine Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-stowe/) > [Only six need be attempted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/only-six-need-be-attempted/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The reason why so little is done, is generally because so little is attempted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-reason-why-so-little-is-done-is-generally-because-so-little-is/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) Browse all 62 Attempted quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We see the wisdom of Solon's remark, that no more good must be attempted than the nation can bear.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-see-the-wisdom-of-solon-s-remark-that-no-more-good-must-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attempted" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-see-the-wisdom-of-solon-s-remark-that-no-more-good-must-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/632/thomas-jefferson-43_bears_we-see-the-wisdom-of-solon-s-remark-that_1438065.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/632/thomas-jefferson-43_bears_we-see-the-wisdom-of-solon-s-remark-that_1438065.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/632/thomas-jefferson-43_bears_we-see-the-wisdom-of-solon-s-remark-that_1438065.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We see the wisdom of Solon's remark, that no more good must be attempted than the nation can bear.” — 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": "We see the wisdom of Solon's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-see-the-wisdom-of-solon-s-remark-that-no-more-good-must-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-see-the-wisdom-of-solon-s-remark-that-no-more-good-must-be/#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 } } ] } ```