No society can make a perpetual constitution, or even a perpetual law. The earth belongs always to the living generation.

Thomas Jefferson

Letter to James Madison, 1789

Read this letter at the National Archives website

More information about this quote

Topic

The only constant is change

Author

Thomas Jefferson

Source

Letter to James Madison, 1789 Letters of Thomas Jefferson

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1789 1780s 18th century

Occupation

Founding Father American President National leader Politician

From

United States

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to James Madison. 6 Sept. 1789.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "James Madison, Sept. 6, 1789." The Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson, edited by Adrienne Koch and William Peden. Modern Library, 1998.

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A quote by Thomas Jefferson about the only constant is change: “No society can make a perpetual constitution, or even…”
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A quote by Thomas Jefferson about the only constant is change: “No society can make a perpetual constitution, or even…”
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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

Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the ark of the covenant, too sacred to be touched... Laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind... We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.

Thomas Jefferson

More information about this quote
Topic
Legal theory Political theory Embracing change

Author

Thomas Jefferson
Medium
Letter
Genre
Political writing
Language
English
Time
1816 1810s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to Samuel Kercheval. 12 July 1816.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "Samuel Kercheval, July 12, 1816." 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

Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.

James Madison

Federalist 10

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Read Federalist No. 10 at the Library of Congress website
More information about this quote
Topic
Political faction Political conflict Political theory Politics

Author

James Madison
Source
Federalist 10 The Federalist Papers
Medium
Essay
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1787 1780s 18th century
Era
American Revolutionary Period
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 10: The Same Subject Continued: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection." Daily Advertiser, 22 Nov. 1787.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 10: An extensive republic a remedy for mischiefs of faction.--Madison." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.