Notes on the State of Virginia

“But all the manna of heaven would never raise the Mouse to the bulk of the Mammoth.”

This quote comes amid Jefferson’s refuting a claim by the French author de Buffon that animals and people in America have “degenerated” and grown smaller and less vigorous. Jefferson argues that since all animals receive nourishment from the same source and have within them fixed principles of growth and dimension, they will not differ from one area of the globe to another. Jefferson is eager to defend biological life in America from the attack of a European naturalist.

“Nature has hidden from us her modus agendi. Our only appeal on such questions is to experience.”

Jefferson states a principle of scientific inquiry, that we must rely on empirical observations to form conclusions about the workings (or modus agendi) of nature because those workings are otherwise indiscernible. He is again refuting Buffon’s thesis, in particular the idea that heat is favorable and moisture unfavorable to animal growth.

“This belief is founded on what I have seen of man, white, red, and black, and what has been written of him by authors, enlightened themselves, and writing amidst an enlightened people.”

Jefferson emphasizes that what he says about Indigenous Americans and African Americans is based on his own observations or on the accounts of authors he believes reputable. He is mounting a defense of Indigenous Americans’ character against unflattering depictions from European writers.

“It is civilization alone which replaces women in the enjoyment of their natural equality. That first teaches us to subdue the selfish passions, and to respect those rights in others which we value in ourselves.”

Jefferson argues that women enjoy a much better status in white American society than among the Indigenous Americans, due to what he sees as Anglo-Americans’ higher civilization. Civilization, as this quote presents it, is closely connected with ethical considerations of the good of the other person and respect for their rights. By contrast, in “barbarous” society the strong trample and exploit the weak, which, in his account, is how Indigenous American men treat their women.

“Who is there to mourn for Logan?—Not one.”

This phrase concludes the speech the Iroquois chief Logan delivered to the colonial governor of Virginia after his (Logan’s) family had been murdered by white vigilantes. Jefferson presents it as an example of Indigenous American eloquence, the equal of any European oratory. Jefferson cites Logan in context of defending Indigenous Americans’ character and talents, the quote a response to the tragic situation of the large-scale destruction of Indigenous life by white people.

“A change in our climate however is taking place very sensibly. Both heats and colds are become much more moderate within the memory even of the middle-aged.”

Jefferson notes the phenomenon of climate change in his home state. This shows his keen attention to natural phenomena and their changes through time. Among the effects of milder winters is less flooding because there is less melting snow to overflow the rivers. This, too, shows his close attention to causes and effects.

“But are there no inconveniences to be thrown into the scale against the advantage expected from a multiplication of numbers by the importation of foreigners?”

Jefferson sounds a skeptical note toward the proposal for wide immigration into the state to fill out its population. The “inconveniences” include the risks of importing people who do not share American democratic principles or the English language. Jefferson is opposed to unrestricted immigration. He would prefer to limit Virginia’s population to people of a common ancestry and background for the sake of social and cultural cohesion.

“This will in some measure stop the increase of this great political and moral evil, while the minds of our citizens may be ripening for a complete emancipation of human nature.”

Jefferson hopes that legislation against slave trade into Virginia will lead to the emancipation of enslaved people. Jefferson declares abolitionism a service to human nature and slavery a “great political and moral” evil. He does not think that emancipation can happen all at once, however; human minds and hearts must “ripen” toward it. Thus, Jefferson suggests slavery is an evil that must be tolerated until Anglo-America society can willingly embrace emancipation.

“It is to be lamented, then, very much to be lamented, that we have suffered so many of the Indian tribes already to extinguish, without our having previously collected and deposited in the records of literature, the general rudiments at least of the languages they spoke.”

Jefferson deeply regrets white settlers’ genocidal violence against the Indigenous Americans. However, this quotation shows his scientific concern: He regrets the loss of the records of the Indigenous Americans’ culture and languages, for providing evidence of their past.

“All bad examples are derived from good ones; but when power comes to the ignorant or the less good, the new example is transferred from the worthy and fit to the unworthy and unfit.”

Jefferson quotes this Roman maxim in reference to the Virginia constitution. He considers the constitution to be falling into corruption due to the lack of proper separation of powers in the state government. The result is tantamount to “despotism” and “oligarchy,” and Jefferson proposes reforms.

“Their constitution therefore allowed a temporary tyrant to be erected, under the name of a Dictator; and that temporary tyrant, after a few examples, became perpetual.”

Jefferson refers to the history of ancient Rome and compares it to what might happen in America. He sees the Virginia constitution repeating the errors of Rome and creating conditions from which a dictator could arise. This quote illustrates how the Founding Fathers used ancient Roman history as a guide to the founding of the new American Republic; more broadly, it shows their emphasis on history as a moral example.

“Jove fix’d it certain, that whatever day

Makes man a slave, takes half his worth away.”

Jefferson quotes Alexander Pope’s translation of Homer’s Odyssey, referencing American slavery. He acknowledges that slavery is a degrading assault on human dignity. He uses the quote also to illustrate the specific point that when one’s dignity is denied, normal moral relations between people become perverted and the victim is less likely to abide by the moral law.

“The genius of architecture seems to have shed its maledictions over this land.”

Jefferson complains about the lack of architecturally attractive homes and buildings in Virginia. He looks down on the typical wood homes of Virginians and recommends homes to be built of brick, stone, and marble instead for both beauty and durability. Like Quote #1, this quote shows Jefferson’s keen interest in aesthetics in addition to practical pursuits.

“The error seems not sufficiently eradicated, that the operations of the mind, as well as the acts of the body, are subject to the coercion of the laws.”

Jefferson refers to the tradition of laws enacting religious intolerance. He sees this tradition as still continuing in Virginia, although it has been weakened to some degree. This quote bears witness to Jefferson’s emphasis on the importance of freedom of conscience to a healthy society.

“The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others.”

Jefferson’s philosophy of government is based on the idea that the powers of government extend only to acts that hurt other people. For Jefferson, this does not include religious beliefs or statements or what we would today call “thought crimes,” which for him are protected by freedom of conscience. This quote—especially the following part about one’s neighbor’s beliefs about God—turned out to be controversial in Jefferson’s lifetime and was used against him during his presidential campaign.

“Constraint may make him worse by making him a hypocrite, but it will never make him a truer man. It may fix him more obstinately in his errors, but will not cure them.”

Jefferson speaks to the bad effects of legislation that violates freedom of religion and conscience. Such legislation gets a particular effect—everyone seems to conform in their beliefs—but without inner truth or sincerity. In fact, it makes people hypocrites by making them profess something that they do not really believe; alternatively, it may harden people against the law without ever changing their minds. The way to affect people’s minds is not through government power but through reason and persuasion.

“Reason and free enquiry are the only effectual agents against error.”

An emblematic statement of the Enlightenment (Age of Reason) to which Jefferson adhered. It is only rational inquiry that will allow truth to be discovered and flourish, not government legislation promoting orthodox views. The government is often a poor judge of philosophical or religious truth, as proved by numerous historical examples.

“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.”

Extending the idea of the previous quote, Jefferson says that truth does not need government legislation to protect it; rather, it is known through rational inquiry and debate. Thus, laws that enforce particular religious views are useless and may even promote truth’s opposite. As in previous quotes, Jefferson expresses a limited-government philosophy, in which the state’s main function is to secure people’s rights, not to promote particular views or creeds.

“From the conclusion of this war we shall be going down hill.”

This is Jefferson’s prediction calculated to dampen the optimism of Americans engaged in the Revolutionary War. Jefferson cautions that after victory in the war, Americans will be starting from scratch in creating a new republic and social order; they must guard against the natural human tendencies toward selfishness and tyranny. Jefferson implies that Americans have no license to hubris or excessive optimism; rather, they must fight to maintain their values and principles.

“Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever: that considering numbers, nature and natural means only, a revolution of the wheel of fortune, an exchange of situation, is among possible events: that it may become probable by supernatural interference!”

This lyrical passage expresses Jefferson’s opposition to American slavery. This is a notably religious response, especially remarkable for Jefferson, in which he calls upon God’s justice to reverse the position of enslaved people and bring them freedom. In particular, the evocation of “supernatural interference” reveals a theological perspective, which Jefferson does not usually profess in his writings.

“The spirit of the master is abating, that of the slave rising from the dust, his condition mollifying, the way I hope preparing, under the auspices of heaven, for a total emancipation, and that this is disposed, in the order of events, to be with the consent of the masters, rather than by their extirpation.”

This passage concludes the previous quote. Observing present conditions, Jefferson foresees the eventual emancipation of enslaved people, moreover through the free will of their enslavers. Jefferson believes that the present generation is growing increasingly amenable to emancipation. The prediction was only partially accurate, as it took a civil war and President Lincoln’s legislation to finally abolish slavery.

“It is the manners and spirit of a people which preserve a republic in vigour.”

This quote reflects Jefferson’s core conviction that is the character of a people that makes (or breaks) a nation, more than its laws and external structures. This is particularly true of a republic, in which the people rule themselves through elected representatives. Jefferson is specifically speaking in support of agriculture as the most virtue-fostering occupation for Americans.

“Never was so much false arithmetic employed on any subject, as that which has been employed to persuade nations that it is in their interest to go to war.”

Jefferson is speaking in favor of cultivating the land and improving infrastructure at home rather than going out on the seas in search of adventure, new territory, goods, etc. He sees the latter activities as creating the risk of war. Jefferson holds up contentment at home as an ideal instead of ambition that leads to the desire for conquest abroad.