We have the wolf by the ears; and we can neither hold him, nor safely let him go. Justice is in one scale, and self-preservation in the other.

Thomas Jefferson

Read this letter at the National Archives website

More information about this quote

Topic

Slavery

Author

Thomas Jefferson

Medium

Letter

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1820 1820s 19th century

Occupation

Founding Father American President National leader Politician

From

United States

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to John Holmes. 22 Apr. 1820.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "John Holmes, April 22, 1820." The Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Including the Autobiography, The Declaration of Independence & His Public and Private Letters, edited by Adrienne Koch and William Peden. Modern Library, 1998.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Thomas Jefferson about slavery: “We have the wolf by the ears; and we can neither hold him, nor safely…”
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A quote by Thomas Jefferson about slavery: “We have the wolf by the ears; and we can neither hold him, nor safely…”
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A quote by Thomas Jefferson about slavery: “We have the wolf by the ears; and we can neither hold him, nor safely…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Thomas Jefferson

Speeches measured by the hour, die with the hour.

Thomas Jefferson

More information about this quote
Topic
Talking too much

Author

Thomas Jefferson
Medium
Letter
Genre
Political writing
Language
English
Time
1824 1820s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to David Harding. 20 Apr. 1824.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "Mr. David Harding, President of the Jefferson Debating Society of Hingham, April 20, 1824." The Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Including the Autobiography, The Declaration of Independence & His Public and Private Letters, edited by Adrienne Koch and William Peden. Modern Library, 1998.

Another quote from the 1820s

There are seasons, in human affairs, of inward and outward revolution, when new depths seem to be broken up in the soul, when new wants are unfolded in multitudes, and a new and undefined good is thirsted for. These are periods when... To dare is the highest wisdom.

William Ellery Channing

More information about this quote
Topic
Seasons of life Inflection points
Speaker
William Ellery Channing
Medium
Speech
Language
English
Time
1829 1820s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Channing, William Ellery. "The Union." May 1829, Boston, MA, USA. Speech.

Another quote about Slavery

I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

Abraham Lincoln

Emancipation Proclamation

Buy a book containing the Emancipation Proclamation at Amazon Buy a book containing the Emancipation Proclamation at Amazon
Read the Emancipation Proclamation at umich.edu
More information about this quote
Topic
End of slavery Slavery
Speaker
Abraham Lincoln
Source
Emancipation Proclamation
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1862 1860s 19th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Final Emancipation Proclamation," or "Proclamation 95." 22 Sept. 1862.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Final Emancipation Proclamation, January 1, 1863." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

Another quote of the following type Metaphor, analogy and simile

Any port in a storm.

John Cleland

More information about this quote
Topic
Safety

Author

John Cleland
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
English
Time
1748 1740s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Cleland, John. Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure. London: G. Fenton, 1748-1749.

Current Citation

Cleland, John. Fanny Hill or, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure. Modern Library, 2001.