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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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

Truth is great and will prevail if left to herself; that she is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error, and has nothing to fear from the conflict unless by human interposition disarmed of her natural weapons, free argument and debate; errors ceasing to be dangerous when it is permitted freely to contradict them.

Thomas Jefferson

More information about this quote
Topic
Power of truth Truth and error

Author

Thomas Jefferson
Language
English
Time
1779 1770s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom. 18 June 1779.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "An Act for Establishing Religious Freedom, 1779." 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

Can I see another's woe,
And not be in sorrows too?
Can I see another's grief,
And not seek for kind relief?

William Blake

Songs of Innocence

Buy a book containing this poem at Amazon Buy a book containing this poem at Amazon
More information about this quote
Topic
Empathy Helping others

Author

William Blake
Source
Songs of Innocence
Medium
Poem
Statement Type
Question
Language
English
Time
1789 1780s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Blake, William. "On Another's Sorrow." Songs of Innocence. London, 1789.

Current Citation

Blake, William. "On Anothers Sorrow." William Blake: Selected Poems, edited by Nicholas Shrimpton. Oxford University Press, 2019.