I think our governments will remain virtuous for many centuries; as long as they are chiefly agricultural; and this will be as long as there shall be vacant lands in any part of America. When they get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, they will become corrupt as in Europe.

Thomas Jefferson

Read this letter at the National Archives website

More information about this quote

Topic

Rural vs. urban

Author

Thomas Jefferson

Medium

Letter

Statement Type

Prophecies and predictions

Language

English

Time

1787 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Occupation

Founding Father American President National leader Politician

From

United States

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to James Madison. 20 Dec. 1787.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "James Madison, Dec. 20, 1787." 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.

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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

I have sworn upon the altar of god, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.

Thomas Jefferson

More information about this quote
Topic
Opposition to tyranny

Author

Thomas Jefferson
Medium
Letter
Language
English
Time
1800 1800s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush. 23 Sept. 1800.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "Dr. Benjamin Rush, Sept. 23, 1800." 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 1780s

There is... Only a single categorical imperative and it is this: Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.

Immanuel Kant

The Metaphysics of Morals

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More information about this quote
Topic
How to behave Moral theory

Author

Immanuel Kant
Source
The Metaphysics of Morals
Genre
Philosophical literature
Statement Type
Precepts and axioms Advice
Language
German
Time
1785 1780s 18th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Kant, Immanuel. Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten [Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals]. Riga: J. F. Hartknoch, 1785.

Current Citation

Kant, Immanuel. Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, translated by Mary Gregor and Jes Timmermann. Cambridge University Press, 2012.

Another quote of the following type Prophecies and predictions

Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you.

Nikita Khrushchev

More information about this quote
Topic
Soviet Union Cold War
Speaker
Nikita Khrushchev
Statement Type
Prophecies and predictions Threat
Language
Russian
Time
1956 1950s 20th century
Authentication Score 1
Citation

Khrushchev, Nikita. Quoted in "Foreign News: We Will Bury You!" Time Magazine, 26 Nov. 1956. Originally stated while addressing western ambassadors. Reception at the Polish embassy. 18 Nov. 1956, Moscow, Russia.