Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of HappinessRandom House Publishing Group, 01/06/2004 - 176 páginas Were Thomas Jefferson alive to read this book, he would recognize every sentence, every elegant turn of phrase, every lofty, beautifully expressed idea. Indeed, every word in the book is his. In an astonishing feat of editing, Eric S. Petersen has culled the entirety of Thomas Jefferson’s published works to fashion thirty-four original essays on themes ranging from patriotism and liberty to hope, humility, and gratitude. The result is a lucid, inspiring distillation of the wisdom of one of America’s greatest political thinkers. From his personal motto—“Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God”—to his resounding discourse on “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson defined the essential truth of the American spirit. In the essays that Petersen has crafted from letters, speeches, and public documents, Jefferson’s unique moral philosophy and vision shine through. Among the hundreds of magnificent sentences gathered in this volume, here are Jefferson’s pronouncements on Gratitude: “I have but one system of ethics for men and for nations— to be grateful, to be faithful to all engagements and under all circumstances, to be open and generous.” Religion: “A concern purely between our God and our consciences.” America’s national character: “It is part of the American character to consider nothing as desperate; to surmount every difficulty with resolution and contrivance.” Public debt: “We shall all consider ourselves unauthorized to saddle posterity with our debts, and morally bound to pay them ourselves.” War: “I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind.” In stately measured cadences, these thirty-four essays provide timeless guidance on leading a spiritually fulfilling life. Light and Liberty is a triumphant work of supreme eloquence, as uplifting today as when Jefferson first set these immortal sentences on paper. |
Índice
3 | |
10 | |
CHEERFULNESS | 16 |
SINCERITY | 22 |
SEEING THE GOOD | 28 |
JESUS | 34 |
HUMILITY | 40 |
BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF | 46 |
DOING WHAT IS RIGHT | 52 |
DREAMING THE IMPOSSIBLE | 76 |
SELFGIVING | 90 |
SELFDISCIPLINE | 103 |
CHRONOLOGY | 121 |
6 | 126 |
133 | |
Outras edições - Ver tudo
Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness Thomas Jefferson Pré-visualização limitada - 2005 |
Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness Thomas Jefferson Visualização de excertos - 2004 |
Light and Liberty: Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness Thomas Jefferson Pré-visualização indisponível - 2005 |
Palavras e frases frequentes
America approbation August August 27 believe Benjamin Rush blessing body character cherish Congress constitution duty earth Elected endeavor error evils exercise faith favor fear February 21 feel fellow citizens Franklin freedom friends friendship George George Wythe give habit heart heaven honest honor hope human interest James Madison James Monroe January 11 Jefferson Randolph Jesus John Adams June justice labor laws light and liberty lived mankind March March 21 Martha Jefferson Martha Jefferson Randolph mind Monticello moral nation nature never November 24 object October 19 opinion ourselves peace Peter Carr preserve principles reason religion republican retirement Revolution sacrifice self-government sincerely society temper things Thomas Jefferson Randolph tion TJ to Dr TJ to James TJ to John TJ to Martha TJ to Peter TJ to Thomas TJ to William tranquility truth Virginia virtue William Short wise wish
Passagens conhecidas
Página xi - Its peculiar character, too, is that no one possesses the less, because every other possesses the whole of it. He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.