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Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to Thomas Jefferson Smith
Parenting is not just limited to mothers and fathers—a woman shouts at a child to stop him from dangerously crossing a street; a father coaches the local Little League team. Communication from outside influences can mean a lot in a child’s life, as evidenced by this February 21, 1825, letter from Thomas Jefferson to young Thomas Jefferson Smith. It is great advice from an old man to a young boy.
This letter will, to you, be as one from the dead. The writer will be in the grave before you can weigh its counsels. Your affectionate and excellent father, has requested that I would address to you something which might possibly have a favorable influence on the course of life you have to run, and I too, as a namesake, feel an interest in that course. Few words will be necessary, with good dispositions on your part. Adore God. Reverence and cherish your parents. Love your neighbor as yourself, and your country more than yourself. Be just. Be true. Murmur not at the ways of Providence. So shall the life into which you have entered, be the portal to one of eternal and ineffable bliss. And if to the dead it is permitted to care for the things of this world, every action of your life will be under my regard. Farewell.
The man, who, by his steady course, has happiness insur’d.
When earth’s foundations shake, shall stand, by Providence secur’d.
A DECALOGUE OF CANONS FOR OBSERVATION IN PRACTICAL LIFE.
1. Never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day.
2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
3. Never spend your money before you have it.
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4. Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.
5. Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst and cold.
6. We never repent of having eaten too little.
7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
8. How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened.
9. Take things always by their smooth handle.
10. When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, an hundred.