---
title: "One of the few lives precious to mankind. ~ Thomas Jefferson — Joseph Priestley Quote #22 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "One of the few lives precious to mankind. ~ Thomas Jefferson — a quote by Joseph Priestley."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # One of the few lives precious to mankind. ~ Thomas Jefferson

[Joseph Priestley](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Priestley)\#22

[Humanity](https://quotesby.net/topics/humanity/)[Importance](https://quotesby.net/topics/importance/)[Life](https://quotesby.net/topics/life/)[Value](https://quotesby.net/topics/value/)

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## About this quote

What does it mean?This life holds unique and irreplaceable value to humanity as a whole.In plain termsThis person's life is extremely valuable to everyone.What can you take from it?Recognize the unique worth of specific individuals.

### Where it applies

- talking about importance
- valuing people

### Putting it to work

- identify key individuals
- honor contributions

### Questions to consider

- Whose life do you consider most precious?
- What makes a life valuable?

### Another view

It does not specify what makes this particular life precious.

## More from Joseph Priestley

1. > When I was young there was no respect for the young, and now that I am old there is no respect for the old. I missed out coming and going.

[Permalink to quote \#21](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Priestley/21/ "Permalink to quote 21")
2. > What I have known with respect to myself, has tended much to lessen both my admiration, and my contempt, of others.

[Permalink to quote \#20](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Priestley/20/ "Permalink to quote 20")
3. > We should like to have some towering geniuses, to reveal us to ourselves in color and fire, but of course they would have to fit into the pattern of our societ…

[Permalink to quote \#19](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Priestley/19/ "Permalink to quote 19")

## Related quotes

1. > A world that has produced a Mozart is a world worth saving. What a picture of a better world you have given us, Mozart! ~ Franz Schubert

[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://quotesby.net/Wolfgang-Amadeus-Mozart)[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart quote \#80](https://quotesby.net/Wolfgang-Amadeus-Mozart/80/ "Permalink to quote 80")
2. > In its solitariness the spirit asks, What, in the way of value, is the attainment of life? And it can find no such value till it has merged its individual clai…

[Alfred North Whitehead](https://quotesby.net/Alfred-North-Whitehead)[Alfred North Whitehead quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/Alfred-North-Whitehead/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")
3. > 'Time lost is time when we have not lived a full human life, time unenriched by experience, creative endeavor, enjoyment, and suffering.'

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://quotesby.net/Dietrich-Bonhoeffer)[Dietrich Bonhoeffer quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/Dietrich-Bonhoeffer/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")

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