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

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 1820s

Marriage must ceaselessly combat a monster that devours everything: habit.

Honoré de Balzac

Physiologie du Mariage

Read The Physiology of Marriage at Project Gutenberg
More information about this quote
Topic
Relationship challenges Marriage

Author

Honoré de Balzac
Source
Physiologie du Mariage
Language
French
Time
1829 1820s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

De Balzac, Honoré. Physiologie du mariage [Physiology of Marriage]. Paris, 1829, pt. 1, meditation 5, no. 47.

Another quote about Slavery

It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes.

Abraham Lincoln

Second Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln

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Read this speech at UVA's Miller Center website
More information about this quote
Topic
Slavery American Civil War American politics
Speaker
Abraham Lincoln
Source
Second Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln Presidential inaugural address
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Language
English
Time
1865 1860s 19th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Second Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1865, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Second Inaugral Address, March 4, 1865." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 2018.