My Own Principles example essay topic
419 words
Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, was one of the most brilliant individuals in history. His interest were boundless and his accomplishments vary upon the line of philosophy, and being a naturalist, politician, scientist, architect, inventor, pioneer in scientific farming, musician and writer. Being the foremost speaker for democracy for his day, he earned the respect of his political peers. Though all knew he was brilliant, he himself said, "I know my own principles to be pure and therefore am not ashamed of them. On the contrary, I wish them known and therefore willingly express them to everyone. They are the same I have acted on from the year 1775 to this day, and are the same, I am sure, with those of the great body of the American people". This showed how he kept some of his brilliance to himself. Jefferson as much as any of the Founding Fathers expressed with eloquence the basic principles of our democracy, and the following description applies well to those principles as found in his own writings: "The essential principles of our Government... form the bright constellation which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation. The wisdom of our sages and blood of our heroes have been devoted to their attainment. They should be the creed of our political faith, the text of civic instruction, the touchstone by which to try the services of those we trust; and should we wander from them in moments of error or of alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps and to regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty and safety". He was a tall and vigorous man, not particularly impressive in person but amiable, once his original stiffness wore off.
He was habitually tactful and notably respectful of the opinions and personalities of others, though he had slight tolerance of those he believed unfaithful to republicanism. A devoted family man who set great store by privacy, he built his house upon a mountain, but he did not look down on people. A distinguished architect and naturalist in his own right, a remarkable linguist, a noted bibliophile, and the father of the University of Virginia, he was the chief patron of learning and the arts in his country in his day. And, with the ible exception of Benjamin Franklin, he was the closest American approximation of the universal man.
