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

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it.

Thomas Jefferson

More information about this quote
Topic
Downsides of freedom Freedom

Author

Thomas Jefferson
Medium
Letter
Language
English
Time
1791 1790s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to Archibald Stuart. 23 Dec. 1791.

Another quote from the 1780s

It seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 1

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Read Federalist No. 1 at the Library of Congress website
More information about this quote
Topic
American founding Self-government Politics

Author

Alexander Hamilton
Source
Federalist 1 The Federalist Papers
Medium
Essay
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1787 1780s 18th century
Era
American Revolutionary Period
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 1: General Introduction." Independent Journal, 27 Oct. 1787.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "No. I: Deliberation on a new constitution--Hamilton." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.