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

Thomas Jefferson

On American slavery.

Read this letter at the National Archives website

More information about this quote

Topic

Slavery

Author

Thomas Jefferson

Source

Letters of Thomas Jefferson

Medium

Letter

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

We are not to expect to be translated from despotism to liberty in a feather-bed.

Thomas Jefferson

More information about this quote
Topic
Price of freedom

Author

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

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to Marquis de Lafayette. 2 Apr. 1790.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "The Marquis de Lafayette, April 2, 1790." 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

I am ashes where once I was fire.

Lord Byron

More information about this quote
Topic
Aging Burnout Loss of passion Passion

Author

Lord Byron
Source
To the Countess of Blessington
Medium
Poem
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
English
Time
1824 1820s 19th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Lord Byron. "To the Countess of Blessington." Letters and Journals. London: J. Johnson, c. 1830.

Current Citation

Lord Byron. "To the Countess of Blessington." Byron: Poems. Everyman's Library, 1994.

Another quote about Slavery

Without slavery the rebellion could never have existed; without slavery it could not continue.

Abraham Lincoln

Buy Lincoln: His Speeches and Writings at Amazon Buy Lincoln: His Speeches and Writings at Amazon
Read the full text of this speech at umich.edu
More information about this quote
Topic
American Civil War Slavery

Author

Abraham Lincoln
Source
Second Annual Message to Congress
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Language
English
Time
1862 1860s 19th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Second Annual Message to Congress." 1 Dec. 1862, US Congress, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Annual Message to Congress, December 1, 1862." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.