Thomas Jefferson never hesitated to pass on life lessons to the younger generation, and frequently spelled them out.
According to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, the most detailed example of that is a letter containing 12 “axioms of behavior” that he sent to his granddaughter, Cordelia Randolph.
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“Thomas Jefferson's retirement years (1809-1826), most of the eleven surviving children of his daughter Martha spent the bulk of their time with him at Monticello,”
according to The Jefferson Monticello website. “Jefferson oversaw and funded their education and took a lively interest in all of their activities.”
Here are the lesson Jefferson shared with Randolph, broken into five categories of life lessons:
1. Just do it.
“Never put off to tomorrow what you can do today.”
“Never trouble another with what you can do yourself.”
2: Waste not, want not.
“Never spend your money before you have it.”
“Never buy a thing you do not want, because it is cheap, it will be dear to you.”
“Take care of your cents: Dollars will take care of themselves.”
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3: Don’t be greedy or prideful.
“Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst and cold.”
“We never repent of having eaten too little.”
“Nothing is troublesome that one does willingly.”
4: Don’t borrow trouble.
“How much pain (they) have cost us the evils which have never happened.”
5: Chill out.
“Take things always by their smooth handle.” (This was interpreted in its day as dealing with a matter in a way that gives the best outcome for all involved.)
“Think as you please, and so let others, and you will have no disputes.”
“When angry, count (to) 10 before you speak; if very angry, 100.”
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