--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have lived longer than I have and…" description: "\"You have lived longer than I have and perhaps may have formed a different judgment on better grounds; but my observations do not enable me to say I thi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd0/thomas-jefferson-43_believe_you-have-lived-longer-than-i-have-and-pe_2511578.jpg" --- # You have lived longer than I have and perhaps may have… ![“You have lived longer than I have and perhaps may have formed a different judgment on better grounds; but my observations do not enable me to say I think integrity the characteristic of wealth. In general I believe the decisions of the people, in a body, will be more honest and more disinterested…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd0/thomas-jefferson-43_believe_you-have-lived-longer-than-i-have-and-pe_2511578.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd0/thomas-jefferson-43_believe_you-have-lived-longer-than-i-have-and-pe_2511578.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd0/thomas-jefferson-43_believe_you-have-lived-longer-than-i-have-and-pe_2511578.jpg) > “You have lived longer than I have and perhaps may have formed a different judgment on better grounds; but my observations do not enable me to say I think integrity the characteristic of wealth. In general I believe the decisions of the people, in a body, will be more honest and more disinterested than those of wealthy men.” [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. Wealth does not guarantee honesty; collective decisions are often more impartial than those of rich individuals. **In simple terms:** Rich people aren't necessarily more honest; groups can be fairer. Key Takeaway Trust collective judgment over personal wealth. Themes integrity wealth collective decision-making honesty politics Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type philosophical political ethical When to use this quote - government policy - community projects - nonprofit governance - public budgeting - corporate ethics Key Concepts social contract public virtue democratic theory Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure collective decisions remain unbiased? - What safeguards protect integrity in both individuals and groups? A Different Perspective Wealthy individuals can also act with integrity, and groups may be swayed by majority bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [ \[My\] pillar of support through life… I can say conscientiously that I do not know in the world a man of purer integrity, more… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-pillar-of-support-through-life-i-can-say-conscientiously-that-i-do/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Someone once said that integrity comes from caring about what other people think of you; but I don't think that integrity comes from caring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/someone-once-said-that-integrity-comes-from-caring-about-what-other/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [I feel sorry that maybe there are some people out there that think our integrity is a little spoiled because we have a bigger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fab-moretti/i-feel-sorry-that-maybe-there-are-some-people-out-there-that-think/) [Fab Moretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fab-moretti/) > [Image is what People think we are..and integrity is what we really are..so work on your character and your Reputation will speak for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/image-is-what-people-think-we-are-and-integrity-is-what-we-really-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Do you think integrity is the monopoly of the artist? And what, incidentally, do you think integrity is? The ability not to pick a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/do-you-think-integrity-is-the-monopoly-of-the-artist-and-what/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [If you speak your mind and if it is true what you're saying, then I think the integrity of what you're saying carries through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/if-you-speak-your-mind-and-if-it-is-true-what-you-re-saying-then-i/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [People confuse integrity with the idea of a high moral standing. I think integrity is saying you're going to do something and doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/people-confuse-integrity-with-the-idea-of-a-high-moral-standing-i/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [I think integrity is underrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke/i-think-integrity-is-underrated/) [Michael Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke/) > [“The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you choose, what you think, what you do—is who you become. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kershaw/the-content-of-your-character-is-your-choice-day-by-day-what-you-2/) [Alex Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kershaw/) > [If your integrity comes from caring about what others think about you, then your integrity will have no foundation and it will always change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-your-integrity-comes-from-caring-about-what-others-think-about-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think integrity's important; really important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-frost/i-think-integrity-s-important-really-important/) [Jo Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-frost/) > [We've got a daunting enough task to provide a definitive account of what happened in 9/11, without fear or favor, something that will last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ben-veniste/we-ve-got-a-daunting-enough-task-to-provide-a-definitive-account-of/) [Richard Ben-Veniste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ben-veniste/) > [Image is what people think we are; integrity is whar we really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/image-is-what-people-think-we-are-integrity-is-whar-we-really-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/the-soul-is-dyed-the-color-of-its-thoughts-think-only-on-those-things-2/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [I'd like to think that I have integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/i-d-like-to-think-that-i-have-integrity/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) ## 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 Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You have lived longer than I have and perhaps may have formed a different judgment on better grounds; but my observations do not enable me to say I think integrity the characteristic of wealth. 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